Definition of mustard
1a : a pungent yellow condiment consisting of the pulverized seeds of various mustard plants (such as Sinapis alba, Brassica juncea, and B. nigra) either dry or made into a paste or sauce (as by mixing with water or vinegar) and sometimes adulterated with other substances (such as turmeric) or mixed with spicesb : the seed of a mustard plant used as a spice and in medicine as a stimulant and diuretic, an emetic, or a counterirritantc slang : zest
2 : any of several herbs (genera Brassica and Sinapis of the family Brassicaceae synonym Cruciferae, the mustard family) with lobed leaves, yellow flowers, and linear beaked pods
3 : a dark to moderate yellow
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Examples of mustard in a Sentence
Would you like some mustard on your hot dog?
Recent Examples of mustard from the Web
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McCormick gains control of brands such as French’s mustard and Frank’s RedHot sauce in the deal.
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Suavely spiced, lightly smoked, and oozing creamy French Emmentaler, the sausage is magnificent with some mustard or horseradish, on a bun or solo on a plate.
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There’s also lump crab salad mixed with mustard and mayonnaise with chives on small toasts, and house meatballs in tomato jus on garlic bread with Manchego cheese and ricotta curds.
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No cheese, ketchup, mustard, lettuce, bacon, tomato or secret sauce to intrude.
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In 1988 Iraq dropped bombs containing mustard gas, and Sarin and Tabun nerve agents on the city of Halabja.
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The punched-up pink turtleneck clashes happily with the ketchup-and-mustard cardigan.
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Decked out in thigh-high glitter boots, Ariana kept the rest of the ensemble minimal, opting for an oversized, mustard-yellow sweatshirt with black lettering and nothing else.
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The Bansal brothers, Basant and Roop — sons of a mustard-seed-oil seller from a small village nearby — made their fortune buying up adjoining plots of land for bigger developers.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mustard.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Illustration of mustard
Origin and Etymology of mustard
Middle English, from Anglo-French mustarde, from must must, from Latin mustum
MUSTARD Defined for English Language Learners
mustard
playDefinition of mustard for English Language Learners
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: a thick and spicy yellow or brownish-yellow sauce that is usually eaten with meat
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: a plant with yellow flowers, leaves that can be used for food, and seeds that are used in making mustard
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: a brownish-yellow color
MUSTARD Defined for Kids
mustard
playDefinition of mustard for Students
: a sharp-tasting yellow powder that is prepared from the seeds of a plant related to the cabbage and is used especially as a seasoning for foods
Medical Dictionary
mustard
playMedical Definition of mustard
1: a pungent yellow condiment consisting of the pulverized seeds of the black mustard or sometimes the white mustard either dry or made into a paste and serving as a stimulant and diuretic or in large doses as an emetic and as a counterirritant when applied to the skin as a poultice
2: any of several herbs (genus Brassica of the family Cruciferae, the mustard family) with lobed leaves, yellow flowers, and linear beaked pods—see black mustard 1, white mustard
3a: mustard gasb: nitrogen mustard
Learn More about mustard
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See words that rhyme with mustard Spanish Central: Translation of mustard Nglish: Translation of mustard for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of mustard for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mustard
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