Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. An herb (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) in the mustard family, related to the cabbage and broccoli and having a whitish undeveloped flower with a large edible head.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. A garden variety of Brassica oleracea, or cabbage, the inflorescence of which is condensed while young into a depressed fleshy head, which is highly esteemed as a vegetable.
- n. A cloud (especially a volcanic cloud) having the form of a cauliflower.
Wiktionary
- n. An annual variety of Brassica oleracea, or cabbage, of which the cluster of young flower stalks and buds is eaten as a vegetable.
- n. The edible head or “curd” of a cauliflower plant.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. An annual variety of Brassica oleracea, or cabbage, of which the cluster of young flower stalks and buds is eaten as a vegetable.
- n. The edible head or “curd” of a cauliflower plant.
WordNet 3.0
- n. a plant having a large edible head of crowded white flower buds
- n. compact head of white undeveloped flowers
Etymologies
- Probably alteration (influenced by flower) of New Latin cauliflōra : Latin caulis, stem + Latin flōs, flōr-, flower; see flower.
Examples
“It's also where I learned the expression "cauliflower ears," which refers to the appearance of one's ears, my teacher's in particular, after they've been pummeled for several decades in succession.”
“In fact, we like this best at room temperature, which has an added benefit: if you wait until the cauliflower is cool to sprinkle the bread crumbs on top, they'll stay good and crisp!”
“When the cauliflower is tender-crisp, turn off the heat and add the remaining cilantro and the yogurt, and toss.”
“Stir in the chopped cauliflower, rosemary, and Aleppo pepper, and cook over medium heat for 15 - 20 minutes, or until the cauliflower is tender and starts to caramelize.”
“Make the Spiced Breadcrumbs: While the cauliflower is cooking, puree together the garlic, Aleppo pepper, and anchovies (if using).”
“When the cauliflower is done, sprinkle with 2 Tbsp. dukkah and stir to evenly distribute.”
“Cook for 5 mins so the cauliflower is coated with oil.”
“Add stock and water, bring to a boil, and then simmer, covered, until the cauliflower is tender.”
“In Hindi, cauliflower is sometimes called just "gobi" or then called "fulgobi" (ful = flower) to distinguish it from "patta-gobi" or cabbage (patta = leaf).”
“Add 3 cups cauliflower florets (about half a medium head of cauliflower) and saute for 5-8 minutes until the cauliflower is just starting to brown and become tender (it does not need to cook completely as it will be baked again).”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘cauliflower’.
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Mycology
basidiomycete, initiation, fungus, shiitake, inoculum, substrate, fruit body, mycelium, hyphal growth, oyster, spawn run, polypore and 206 more...
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panvowels
Words that contain every vowel.
ambidextrous, cauliflower, exhaustion, mustachioed, postneuralgic, sulphogermanic, tambourine, troublemaking, ulceration, undisprovable, unproblematic, pneumonia and 1 more...
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Gas-Inducing Foodstuffs
Foods that produce flatulence. List title a shameless filching of a fortuitous phrase yarb introduced in his definition of scotch egg. I know everyone has a few foods they avoid at certain times ...
scotch egg, cabbage, chili beans, garbanzo beans, chickpeas, hummus, pickled eggs, rutabaga, radish, jerusalem artichoke, brussels sprouts, cauliflower and 42 more...
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Cruciferous Vegetables
The GNU Webster's 1913 tells us that the second meaning for cruciferous is as follows: "Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a family of plants which have four petals arranged like the arms of a cross...
broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, rutabaga, mustard, radish, turnip, arugula, watercress, horseradish and 27 more...

sionnach "Cauliflower is nothing but a cabbage with a college education."
Mark Twain Nov 2, 2008
chained_bear HA HA HA!!! Oct 31, 2008
yarb Art thou mad, said Friar John, to run on at this rate? Help, here, in the name of five hundred thousand millions of cartloads of devils, help! may a shanker gnaw thy moustachios, and the three rows of pock-royals and cauliflowers cover thy bum and turd-barrel instead of breeches and codpiece. Codsooks, our ship is almost overset.
- Rabelais, Gargantua and Pantagruel, bk 4, ch. XXI, tr. Le Motteux Oct 31, 2008
john “I was leaping off the rope, and Yukon Eric, who had a cauliflower ear, moved at the last second,�? Kowalski told The Chicago Tribune in 1989. “I thought I missed, but all of a sudden, something went rolling across the ring. It was his ear.�?
The New York Times, Killer Kowalski, Wrestler, Dies at 81, by Richard Goldstein, August 31, 2008 Sep 1, 2008
reesetee Interesting site, ptero! Apr 10, 2008
pterodactyl See this map for American pronunciation. Apr 10, 2008