: any of various crucifers with moderately pungent leaves used especially in salads: such as
a
: a watercress (Nasturtium officinale)
b
Examples of cress in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Blind Mutant Thale cress — known to science as Arabidopsis thaliana — is not a particularly attractive plant.
—
Quanta Magazine, 31 Jan. 2024
Arabidopsis, also called thale cress, is a plant widely used in scientific research.
—Fox News, 9 Nov. 2023
Researchers rose temperatures from 60 to 82.4 degrees Fahrenheit and used three different types of plants, the thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana), vegetable cabbage (Brassica oleracea) and the tomato plant (Solanum lycop).
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 13 July 2023
The two species are different in appearance alone: Garden cress has short stems with small leaves, while watercress develops a height of up to 15 centimeters and the leaves have a diameter of about 3 centimeters.
—Philipp Wehsack, Vogue, 1 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for cress 
Quanta Magazine, 31 Jan. 2024
Arabidopsis, also called thale cress, is a plant widely used in scientific research.
—Fox News, 9 Nov. 2023
Researchers rose temperatures from 60 to 82.4 degrees Fahrenheit and used three different types of plants, the thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana), vegetable cabbage (Brassica oleracea) and the tomato plant (Solanum lycop).
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 13 July 2023
The two species are different in appearance alone: Garden cress has short stems with small leaves, while watercress develops a height of up to 15 centimeters and the leaves have a diameter of about 3 centimeters.
—Philipp Wehsack, Vogue, 1 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for cress
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cress.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Cress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cress. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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cress
noun
: any of various plants related to the mustards and having leaves that are used especially in salads
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