beet

noun

: a biennial garden plant (Beta vulgaris) of the amaranth family that includes several cultivars (such as Swiss chard and sugar beet) and that has thick edible leaves with long petioles and often swollen purplish-red roots
also : its root used especially as a vegetable, as a source of sugar, or for forage

Examples of beet in a Sentence

I've planted carrots, parsnips, and beets in the garden.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Both of those menus featured Whoppers with thematic, colored buns, dyed using natural colorants, like beet juice or ube. Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 21 May 2025 Research on beet juice for high blood pressure involves varying doses. Ann Pietrangelo, Verywell Health, 20 May 2025 Her Instagram page shows bright bowls of tofu scrambles with heirloom tomatoes, avocado and beet sauerkraut. Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2025 Other natural dyes include annatto extract (yellow) from the seeds of the tropical tree Bixa orellana and blue-to-brown colorants produced from juiced, powdered or dehydrated beets, experts said. Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for beet

Word History

Etymology

Middle English bete, from Old English bēte, from Latin beta

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of beet was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Beet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beet. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

beet

noun
: a garden plant with thick long-stalked edible leaves and usually an enlarged purplish red root used as a vegetable, as a source of sugar, or as food for livestock
also : this root

More from Merriam-Webster on beet

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