spinach

noun spin·ach \ ˈspi-nich \

|Updated on: 8 Aug 2018

Definition of spinach

1 : an Asian herb (Spinacia oleracea) of the goosefoot family cultivated for its edible leaves which form in a dense basal rosette; also : its leaves

2 a : something unwanted, pretentious, or spurious

b : an untidy overgrowth

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spinachlike

play \ˈspi-nich-ˌlīk\ adjective

—

spinachy

play \ˈspi-ni-chē\ adjective

See spinach defined for English-language learners

See spinach defined for kids

Recent Examples of spinach from the Web

Superfoods Blueberries, kale, spinach, salmon, quinoa, broccoli, chia seeds and goji berries are just a few nutrient-rich foods that help people stay healthy and feel good.

— jackie pilossoph, chicagotribune.com, "15 material and nonmaterial self-confidence boosters," 20 June 2018
Notes: Feel free to add additional vegetables such as kale, spinach, cubed cooked yellow beets, etc.

— joan elovitz kazan, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Breakfast in bed? These dads would rather be in the kitchen," 12 June 2018
As far as veggies, kale and spinach are at the top of her list.

— allison horton, miamiherald, "Want to reduce your odds of getting cancer? Stay active, lose weight and eat healthy," 25 May 2018
Pitch-black squid ink dumplings stuffed with pork and peanuts, as well as the spinach-green dumpings crowned with a dollop of XO sauce, tend to go flaccid in the steamer.

— jonathan kauffman, San Francisco Chronicle, "Is Instagram making our dim sum better?," 3 May 2018
The Sunday sugo is a rich crowd-pleaser of a meat sauce, and gnocchi stuffed with ricotta and spinach melt away nicely.

— dominic armato, azcentral, "The Sicilian Butcher: 908 ways to eat meatballs at Maggiore's new Italian restaurant. But are they good?," 10 Apr. 2018
Editing methods promise to be faster and cheaper, opening up the technique to foods that haven’t usually been modified, say strawberries or spinach.

— lydia mulvany, Bloomberg.com, "More Gene-Edited Food Could Soon Be Coming to Store Shelves," 21 Mar. 2018
The study participants were asked about their intake of raw lettuce and cooked collard greens, kale and spinach.

— consumer reports, Washington Post, "Eating leafy greens may delay age-related memory decline," 12 Mar. 2018
And the mildly spicy vegetable phyllo roll — packed with a smooth blend of roasted carrots, peppers, mushroom ragout and spinach — also impressed.

— tim smith, baltimoresun.com, "Despite slow service, The Grill at Harryman House offers plenty of reasons to linger," 8 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of spinach

Middle English spinache, from Anglo-French, alteration of Old French espinaces, from Medieval Latin spinachium, ultimately from Arabic isfānākh, from Pers

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

SPINACH Defined for English Language Learners

spinach

noun

Definition of spinach for English Language Learners

: a plant with dark green leaves that are eaten as a vegetable

SPINACH Defined for Kids

spinach

noun spin·ach \ ˈspi-nich \

Definition of spinach for Students

: a garden plant with usually large dark green leaves that are eaten cooked or raw as a vegetable

Learn More about spinach

See words that rhyme with spinach Spanish Central: Translation of spinach Nglish: Translation of spinach for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of spinach for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about spinach

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spinach

Definition of spinach

spinachlike

spinachy

Recent Examples of spinach from the Web

Origin and Etymology of spinach

Other Food Terms

SPINACH Defined for English Language Learners

spinach

Definition of spinach for English Language Learners

SPINACH Defined for Kids

spinach

Definition of spinach for Students

Learn More about spinach

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spinach

Definition of spinach

spinachlike

spinachy

Recent Examples of spinach from the Web

Origin and Etymology of spinach

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SPINACH Defined for English Language Learners

spinach

Definition of spinach for English Language Learners

SPINACH Defined for Kids

spinach

Definition of spinach for Students

Learn More about spinach

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