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

It's served with apple pikliz – a Haitian-style slaw of pickled cabbage, carrots and scotch bonnet peppers, though the Barracos add shaved apple to give it a Midwestern twist. —Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Nov. 2025

To up their chances, hunters may want to lure deer with edible bait such as apples, carrots, sweet potatoes, corn and the like. —Georgea Kovanis, Freep.com, 3 Nov. 2025

Bone Broth Bone broth is made by simmering chicken or beef bones with vegetables like onion and carrots and a small amount of vinegar. —Mark Gurarie, Health, 3 Nov. 2025

Enjoy this cake filled with raisins, pecans, and shredded carrots. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 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 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