celery

noun

cel·​ery ˈse-lə-rē 

ˈsel-rē

plural celeries

: a European herb (Apium graveolens) of the carrot family

specifically : one of a cultivated variety (A. graveolens var. dulce) with leafstalks eaten raw or cooked

Examples of celery in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Rhubarb is a vegetable that visually appears to resemble celery in texture — but its color and taste are differentiating factors between the two. —Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 3 Dec. 2024

Yellow onion, green bell pepper, and celery: While many dressing recipes call for celery and onion, the Cajun or Creole Holy Trinity is crucial for developing an aromatic base that beautifully complements the fresh oysters and makes this dressing really shine. —Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2024

Organic carrots and celery sold at Whole Foods Market in five states are being recalled amid a deadly E. coli outbreak that has stricken 39 people in 18 states. —Kate Gibson, CBS News, 22 Nov. 2024

Add onions, leeks, apples, pears, celery, 1 tablespoon of the salt and 2 teaspoons of the pepper. —Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French céleri (17th-century celeris, sceleri, Middle French scellerin), borrowed from an Upper Italian form (as Ligurian sèlarʼu, Lombard sèleri), altered from Vulgar Latin *selinum (Late Latin selīnon), borrowed from Greek sélīnon, perhaps from a pre-Greek substratal language

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing celery

• celery cabbage
• celery root
• wild celery

Kids Definition

celery

noun

cel·​ery ˈsel-(ə-)rē 

plural celeries

: a European herb related to the carrot and widely grown for the thick edible stems

also : the stems of celery used for food