watercress

noun

wa·​ter·​cress ˈwȯ-tər-ˌkres 

ˈwä-

1

: any of several aquatic or semiaquatic cresses

especially : a perennial cress (Nasturtium officinale) native to Europe and southwestern Asia that is naturalized in the U.S. and has leaves used especially in salads or as a potherb

2

: the leaves of a watercress

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Garnish with watercress, microgreens, or parsley. —Sheryl Julian, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Dec. 2022

Here’s a hint on storing watercress. —Tribune News Service, cleveland, 17 June 2021

Find it in carrots, cabbage, kale and watercress. —BostonGlobe.com, 25 Aug. 2020

Whole-grain and Dijon mustard, plus watercress, dill, and chives, make this salad a fun twist on the classic. —Elizabeth Berry, Woman's Day, 7 Apr. 2023

Place in a bowl with the watercress. —Tribune News Service, cleveland, 17 June 2021

Every year, in 6,000 square feet of old bomb shelter, more than 100 tons of pea shoots, garlic chives, cilantro, broccoli, wasabi mustard, arugula, fennel, red mustard, pink stem radishes, watercress, sunflower shoots, and salad leaves are sown, grown, and prepared for dispatch. —Kate Peters, Popular Mechanics, 12 Nov. 2020

Ribeye with brandied cherries, porchini sott’olio and bone marrow, to an epic 24 ounce Porterhouse steak with blue cheese fonduta, watercress and d’anjou pear. —Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2022

Located on the ground floor of the Foundation Hotel on Washington Boulevard in downtown Detroit, the Apparatus has a prix-fixe menu with a range of dishes such as mini corn cakes with black walnut and guajillo, roasted pumpkin salad with wild rice, apple, confit turkey and watercress. —Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 12 Nov. 2022

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Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

watercress

noun

wa·​ter·​cress -ˌkres 

: a plant that is related to the mustards and the cabbage, grows especially in clear running water, and has crisp peppery-tasting leaves used especially in salads

also : the leaves of a watercress