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

The peanut street noodles sautéed with red cabbage, snap peas, carrots, cilantro, chilies, and sesame seeds land lighter but still manage to feel substantial. — Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026

Industry groups have instead tried to direct the administration to the carrot rather than the stick, urging the president to consider an incentive instead. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 13 July 2026

Look for carrots that mature in around 50 days, and plant in loose, well-draining soil that’s amended with compost. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 July 2026

Then, grasp the greens at the base and gently pull the carrot up. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 10 July 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