Adjacent Words

Fennel definitions

	Tweet

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

FEN'NEL, n. [L. faeiculum, from faenum, hay.]
A fragrant plant of the genus Anethum, cultivated in gardens.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: any of several aromatic herbs having edible seeds and leaves and stems
2: aromatic bulbous stem base eaten cooked or raw in salads [syn: fennel, Florence fennel, finocchio]
3: leaves used for seasoning [syn: fennel, common fennel]
4: fennel seeds are ground and used as a spice or as an ingredient of a spice mixture

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English fenel, from Old English finugl, from Vulgar Latin *fenuculum, from Latin feniculum fennel, irregular diminutive of fenum hay Date: before 12th century a perennial European herb (Foeniculum vulgare) of the carrot family having two cultivated forms: a. the commonly cultivated form (F. vulgare dulce) having aromatic leaves and seeds b. Florence fennel

Britannica Concise

Perennial or biennial aromatic herb (Foeniculum vulgare) of the parsley family, native to S Europe and Asia Minor and cultivated in the U.S., Britain, and temperate Eurasia. The blanched shoots are eaten as a vegetable. The greenish-brown to yellowish-brown oblong oval seeds smell and taste similar to anise. The seeds and extracted oil are used for scenting soaps and perfumes and for flavoring candies, liqueurs, medicines, and foods, particularly pastries, sweet pickles, and fish.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a yellow-flowered fragrant umbelliferous plant, Foeniculum vulgare, with leaves or leaf-stalks used in salads, soups, etc. 2 the seeds of this used as flavouring. Etymology: OE finugl etc. & OF fenoil f. L feniculum f. fenum hay

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Fennel Fen"nel (f[e^]n"n[e^]l), n. [AS. fenol, finol, from L. feniculum, faeniculum, dim. of fenum, faenum, hay: cf. F. fenouil. Cf. Fenugreek. Finochio.] (Bot.) A perennial plant of the genus F[ae]niculum (F. vulgare), having very finely divided leaves. It is cultivated in gardens for the agreeable aromatic flavor of its seeds. Smell of sweetest fennel. --Milton. A sprig of fennel was in fact the theological smelling bottle of the tender sex. --S. G. Goodrich. Azorean, or Sweet, fennel, (F[ae]niculum dulce). It is a smaller and stouter plant than the common fennel, and is used as a pot herb. Dog's fennel (Anthemis Cotula), a foul-smelling European weed; -- called also mayweed. Fennel flower (Bot.), an herb (Nigella) of the Buttercup family, having leaves finely divided, like those of the fennel. N. Damascena is common in gardens. N. sativa furnishes the fennel seed, used as a condiment, etc., in India. These seeds are the ``fitches'' mentioned in Isaiah (xxviii. 25). Fennel water (Med.), the distilled water of fennel seed. It is stimulant and carminative. Giant fennel (Ferula communis), has stems full of pith, which, it is said, were used to carry fire, first, by Prometheus. Hog's fennel, a European plant (Peucedanum officinale) looking something like fennel.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Fennel Fen"nel (f[e^]n"n[e^]l), n. [AS. fenol, finol, from L. feniculum, faeniculum, dim. of fenum, faenum, hay: cf. F. fenouil. Cf. Fenugreek. Finochio.] (Bot.) A perennial plant of the genus F[ae]niculum (F. vulgare), having very finely divided leaves. It is cultivated in gardens for the agreeable aromatic flavor of its seeds. Smell of sweetest fennel. --Milton. A sprig of fennel was in fact the theological smelling bottle of the tender sex. --S. G. Goodrich. Azorean, or Sweet, fennel, (F[ae]niculum dulce). It is a smaller and stouter plant than the common fennel, and is used as a pot herb. Dog's fennel (Anthemis Cotula), a foul-smelling European weed; -- called also mayweed. Fennel flower (Bot.), an herb (Nigella) of the Buttercup family, having leaves finely divided, like those of the fennel. N. Damascena is common in gardens. N. sativa furnishes the fennel seed, used as a condiment, etc., in India. These seeds are the ``fitches'' mentioned in Isaiah (xxviii. 25). Fennel water (Med.), the distilled water of fennel seed. It is stimulant and carminative. Giant fennel (Ferula communis), has stems full of pith, which, it is said, were used to carry fire, first, by Prometheus. Hog's fennel, a European plant (Peucedanum officinale) looking something like fennel.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Fennel is a plant with a crisp rounded base and feathery leaves. It can be eaten as a vegetable or the leaves can be used as a herb.