First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1pepper
noun pep·per \ˈpe-pər\
Definition of PEPPER
1
a : either of two pungent products from the fruit of an Indian plant (Piper nigrum) that are used chiefly as condiments: (1) : black pepper (2) : white pepper b : any of several products similar to pepper that are obtained from plants of the same genus <cubeb pepper> c : any of various pungent condiments of plants unrelated to the pepper <Szechuan pepper>
2
: any of a genus (Piper of the family Piperaceae, the pepper family) of tropical mostly jointed climbing shrubs with aromatic leaves; especially : a woody vine (P. nigrum) with spicate flowers that is widely cultivated in the tropics for its red berries from which black pepper and white pepper are prepared
3
a : capsicum 1; especially : one (Capsicum annuum) whose fruits are hot peppers or sweet peppers b : the hollow fruit of a pepper that is usually green when unripe and red or yellow when ripe
— pepper adjective
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Origin of PEPPER
Middle English peper, from Old English pipor, from Latin piper, from Greek peperi
2pepper
verb
: to add pepper to (food)
pep·peredpep·per·ing \ˈpe-p(ə-)riŋ\
Full Definition of PEPPER
transitive verb
1
a : to sprinkle or season with pepper b : to shower with or as if with shot or other missiles
2
: to hit with or as if with rapid repeated blows
3
: to sprinkle or cover as if with pepper <peppered the report with statistics> <a face peppered with freckles>
— pep·per·er \-pər-ər\ noun
See pepper defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of PEPPER
before 12th century
3pepper
noun
Definition of PEPPER
: a baseball practice or warm-up game in which usually several fielders toss the ball a short distance to a single batter who hits it back
Origin of PEPPER
probably from 2pep + 2-er
First Known Use: 1943
PEPPER Defined for Kids
1pepper
noun pep·per \ˈpe-pər\
Definition of PEPPER for Kids
1
: a black or white spice that has a sharp flavor and comes from the dried ground-up fruit of an Indian climbing shrub
2
: a usually green, red, or yellow vegetable that has a sharp or mildly sweet flavor and grows on a bushy garden plant
2pepper
verb
pep·peredpep·per·ing
Definition of PEPPER for Kids
1
: to season with or as if with pepper
2
: to hit with or as if with a shower of blows or objects <Hail peppered the hikers.> <Freckles peppered his face.>
Medical Dictionary
pepper
noun pep·per \ˈpep-ər\
Medical Definition of PEPPER
1
a : a woody Indian vine of the genus Piper (P. nigrum) that is widely cultivated in the tropics for its red berries from which black pepper and white pepper are prepared b (1) : black pepper (2) : white pepper
2
: capsicum 2
Learn More About PEPPER
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