carrot

noun

car·​rot ˈker-ət 

ˈka-rət

1

: a biennial herb (Daucus carota of the family Apiaceae synonym Umbelliferae, the carrot family) with a usually orange spindle-shaped edible root

also : its root

2

: a reward or advantage offered especially as an inducement

The company offered a carrot in the form of additional vacation time to workers who met their deadlines.

Examples of carrot in a Sentence

She chopped some carrots for the soup.

He added some grated carrot to the soup.

The company offered a carrot in the form of additional vacation time to workers who met their deadlines.

Recent Examples on the Web

That would be a juicy carrot for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. —Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Jan. 2025

Stir in onion, celery, carrots, and salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are lightly browned and tender, about 8 minutes. —Renu Dhar, Southern Living, 16 Jan. 2025

This cozy blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves is a fitting partner for roasted vegetables like sweet potatoes or carrots. —Rai Mincey, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025

But here’s the carrot still dangling in front of the Finns, Swedes, Canadians and Americans initially passed over: The tryouts effectively continue. —Chris Johnston, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French carotte, from Late Latin carota, from Greek karōton

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing carrot

• carrot-and-stick
• carrot cake
• wild carrot

Kids Definition

carrot

noun

car·​rot ˈkar-ət 

: the long orange edible root of a common garden plant that is eaten as a vegetable

also : a plant that produces a carrot

Medical Definition

carrot

noun

car·​rot ˈkar-ət 

: a biennial plant of the genus Daucus (D. carota) that bears seeds which have been used especially as a diuretic and stimulant and that in cultivated varieties has a yellow or orange-red tapering root which is used as a vegetable

also : its root