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

Together with classic egg noodles, carrots, celery, Italian seasoning, and just a few more ingredients, the rotisserie chicken pulls together the meal. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025

Using multiple colors of carrots is essential—Fatemian opts for white, purple, yellow, and orange. —Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Sep. 2025

Add the onion and carrots and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until soft. —Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 5 Sep. 2025

Bags of frozen peas and carrots, as well as bags of mixed vegetables sold under the Endico brand, are being recalled after testing conducted by Pennsylvania at a distributor revealed the presence of the bacteria, according to the recall notice. —Julia Gomez, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025

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) 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