carrot

noun

car·​rot ˈker-ət 

ˈka-rət

1

: a biennial herb (Daucus carota of the family Apiaceae synonym Umbelliferae, the carrot family) with a usually orange spindle-shaped edible root

also : its root

2

: a reward or advantage offered especially as an inducement

The company offered a carrot in the form of additional vacation time to workers who met their deadlines.

Examples of carrot in a Sentence

She chopped some carrots for the soup.

He added some grated carrot to the soup.

The company offered a carrot in the form of additional vacation time to workers who met their deadlines.

Recent Examples on the Web

While carrots have more solid support from human data for cancer prevention, initial research suggests that sweet potatoes, especially purple varieties, may show promising anticancer potential. — Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 2 Nov. 2026

There’s a big, long-term financial carrot for owners to break the union. — Evan Drellich, New York Times, 29 Oct. 2026

Bonci said at her household, her family will be handing out chocolate, because no one wants to go to the dietitian's house and get a baby carrot. — John Shumway, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026

Grasses, shrubs, tree bark, and ornamental plants in the landscape or a garden filled with carrots, potatoes, radishes, and other bulbs are appealing. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French carotte, from Late Latin carota, from Greek karōton

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing carrot

• carrot-and-stick
• carrot cake
• wild carrot

Rhymes for carrot

• barret

Kids Definition

carrot

noun

car·​rot ˈkar-ət 

: the long orange edible root of a common garden plant that is eaten as a vegetable

also : a plant that produces a carrot

Medical Definition

carrot

noun

car·​rot ˈkar-ət 

: a biennial plant of the genus Daucus (D. carota of the family Apiaceae synonym Umbelliferae, the carrot family) that bears seeds which have been used especially as a diuretic and stimulant and that in cultivated varieties has a yellow or orange-red tapering root which is used as a vegetable

also : its root