turnip

noun

tur·​nip ˈtər-nəp 

1

a

: either of two biennial herbs of the mustard family with thick edible roots:

(1)

: one (Brassica rapa var. rapa) with globular often flattened roots and leaves that are cooked as a vegetable

(2)

: rutabaga

b

: the root of a turnip

2

: a large pocket watch

Examples of turnip in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Smoked ham: Includes half smoked ham, mac n cheese, turnip greens, broccoli salad, hashbrown casserole, dinner rolls (20), sweet potato, fudge, pecan or pie, iced tea, and BBQ sauce. —Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 9 Dec. 2024

Bourbon Balances Bitterness Hardy winter greens like collards, kale, and turnip greens have a subtle bitter flavor. —Josh Miller, Southern Living, 6 Dec. 2024

Traditional goodies like the turnip cake are perfection. —Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Nov. 2024

Plant spinach in between turnip rows to suppress weeds. —Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

tur-, perhaps from turn entry 1 (in the sense "shape into a rounded form by means of a lathe") + nip, reduced form of neep

Note: The word is first attested in the plural turnepez in a list of root vegetables appended to a collection of recipes (MS. British Library Sloane 1201; see Alicia Amherst, A History of Gardening in England, 3rd edition, New York, 1910, p. 68); the Middle English Dictionary dates it "about 1500." Compare parsnip.

First Known Use

1537, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

turnip

noun

tur·​nip ˈtər-nəp 

1

: either of two herbs related to cabbage with thick edible roots:

a

: one with usually white roundish roots and leaves that are cooked as a vegetable when young and tender

b

: rutabaga

2

: the root of a turnip