celeriac

noun ce·le·ri·ac \ sə-ˈler-ē-ˌak , -ˈlir- \

Definition of celeriac

:a celery (Apium graveolens rapaceum) grown for its knobby edible root

Recent Examples of celeriac from the Web

Spiralizers work well with sturdy produce such as zucchini, carrots, beets, celeriac, eggplant, sweet and white potatoes, parsnips, turnips, broccoli stems, jicama, firm apples and pears.

— darlene zimmerman, Detroit Free Press, "Skip the fattening pasta and dig in to zoodles this zucchini season," 13 Aug. 2017
As for Roš’s menu, the six- or 11-course dinner changes every month, recently including a bone marrow ravioli with sheep cottage cheese and prosciutto broth; beef tongue with celeriac and scallops; and a Soča River trout with summer salad.

— kate springer, Vogue, "A Slovenia Dining Guide From the World’s Best Female Chef," 23 June 2017
Then came pigeon breasts with wild mushroom sauce and roast celeriac, paired with the day's first red -- a smoky, spicy tipple made by Niepoort family, originally from the Netherlands, but making wines in the Douro since 1840.

— paul ames, CNN, "Portugal's Douro Presidential Train: The world's tastiest rail journey," 22 May 2017
For the perfect crunch, smash small potatoes before roasting and for a creamy treat; try simmering celeriac in milk before mashing.

— plum organics®, Bon Appetit, "These Tips, Tricks, and Recipes Make "Eating Your Colors" a Breeze," 1 Apr. 2017
Ismail’s job each day is to pick and wash about 1,000 celeriac, which is used in stews.

— patrick kingsley, New York Times, "Syrians in Turkey: The Human Smuggler and the Young Refugee," 24 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'celeriac.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of celeriac

altered from celery; the origin of suffixal -ac is obscure

Note: Word apparently introduced by the English gardener and landscaper Stephen Switzer (1682?-1745) in A compendious, but more particular method, than has ever yet been published, for the raising Italian brocoli, Spanish cardoon, celeriac, fenochi, and other foreign kitchen vegetables, so as to make them dishes more generally used than hithero they have been (London, first edition 1728 or 1729). Switzer claimed to have received celeriac seeds from Alexandria, but gives no account of the source of the word.

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1743

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