celery

A European herb (Apium graveolens) of the carrot family.

Noun

  1. A European herb (Apium graveolens) of the carrot family.
  2. The stalks of this herb eaten as a vegetable.
    • In eighteenth century France celery soup was a means of whetting the amorous appetite. - 1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 58:
  3. A yellow-green colour, like that of a celery.

Origin

From French céleri, from Lombard selleri, a plural of Latin selīnum, from Ancient Greek σέλῑνον (sélīnon). Displaced English march (“celery, smallage”) and smallage (“wild celery”).

Forms

celeries cellery sellary

Derived

celeriac celeried celery cabbage celeryless celery lettuce celerylike celery pine celery root celery salt celery seed celery vase celtuce Chinese celery Indian celery knob celery leaf celery sea celery shrub celery water celery wild celery