cauliflower

noun

cau·​li·​flow·​er ˈkȯ-li-ˌflau̇(-ə)r  ˈkä- 

-lē-

often attributive

: a garden plant (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) related to the cabbage and grown for its compact edible head of usually white undeveloped flowers

also : its flower cluster used as a vegetable

Examples of cauliflower in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Asia meets the Southwest in these dishes that hopscotch from bahn mis and perfectly crunchy cauliflower with zingy gochujang sauce to green-chile smashburgers and similarly chile-laden disco fries. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 July 2026

Bates is a vegetarian, so DB’s in Da Kitchen also will serve a few vegetarian items such as wheat gluten mock-chicken strips and cauliflower over rice. — Joey Schamber, jsonline.com, 8 July 2026

Her grandma, mom and aunts made this broccoli and cauliflower salad long before Hill was born. — Karla Walsh, CNN Money, 3 July 2026

Advertisement Melons, cauliflower, and fennel are other good options in this category, Bragagnini adds. — Sarah Klein, Time, 30 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Italian cavolfiore, from cavolo cabbage (from Late Latin caulus, from Latin caulis stem, cabbage) + fiore flower, from Latin flor-, flos — more at cole, blow

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cauliflower

• cauliflower ear
• Romanesco cauliflower

Rhymes for cauliflower

• candlepower
• overpower
• superpower
• vavasour
• waterpower
• airpower
• brainpower
• devour
• empower
• firepower
• horsepower
• manpower

Kids Definition

cauliflower

noun

cau·​li·​flow·​er ˈkȯ-li-ˌflau̇(-ə)r 

: a garden plant closely related to the cabbage and grown for its compact edible head of usually white undeveloped flowers