eggplant

noun

egg·​plant ˈeg-ˌplant How to pronounce eggplant (audio)
ˈāg-
1
a
: a widely cultivated perennial Asian herb (Solanum melongena) of the nightshade family yielding edible fruit
b
: the usually smooth ovoid typically blackish-purple or white fruit of the eggplant
2
: a dark grayish or blackish purple

Examples of eggplant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web One of her friends can’t eat nightshades (a family of plants that includes eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes), her husband doesn’t like cheese, and others avoid shellfish and red meat. The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 14 Sep. 2023 In my region, hardiness zone six, beans, broccoli, lettuce greens, cauliflower, cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes do well in a growing season from May to October. Paige Curtis, The Atlantic, 9 Aug. 2023 David Isaac, one of Ashmore’s closest friends and a frequent kitchen companion, roasted eggplant in the fire pit for baba ghanouj and rolled out dough for homemade pita, dusting it with za’atar before putting it on the grill. Catherine Hong, New York Times, 26 July 2023 In lieu of individual plates, there were family-size dishes (vegetarian meatballs all prepared by Ester, roasted eggplants), meaning greater conviviality and less waste, while the meal ended with Belgian cheese and sesame cake. Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 6 Sep. 2023 The eggplant is softened in the oven and then filled with a simple blend of herbs and ricotta. 20 Baked Chicken Roulade This recipe elevates budget-friendly chicken to a fancy French meal. Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2023 Calacatta Viola, a mauve-streaked marble, brings out the inky eggplant. Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 9 Aug. 2023 Growers in the Southwest, zones six through nine, should plant vegetables like okra, peppers, and eggplant, which grow well in the region’s hot and sunny conditions. Paige Curtis, The Atlantic, 9 Aug. 2023 On rimmed baking sheet, brush both sides of eggplant or mushrooms with oil and season with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Joy Cho, Good Housekeeping, 8 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'eggplant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1767, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of eggplant was in 1767

Dictionary Entries Near eggplant

Cite this Entry

“Eggplant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eggplant. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

eggplant

noun
egg·​plant -ˌplant How to pronounce eggplant (audio)
1
: a widely cultivated herb that is related to the potato and yields edible fruit
2
: the usually glossy blackish purple egg-shaped fruit of an eggplant

More from Merriam-Webster on eggplant

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