cauliflower

[ kaw-luh-flou-er, -lee-, kol-uh-, kol-ee- ]

noun

1. a form of cultivated plant, Brassica oleracea botrytis, of the mustard family, whose inflorescence forms a compact, usually whitish head. Compare broccoli.
2. this head, used as a vegetable.

cauliflower

/ ˈkɒlɪˌflaʊə /

noun

1. a variety of cabbage, Brassica oleracea botrytis, having a large edible head of crowded white flowers on a very short thick stem
2. the flower head of this plant, used as a vegetable

Word History and Origins

Origin of cauliflower¹

1590–1600; < Latin cauli ( s ) cole + flower; replacing coleflorie < Italian ca ( v ) olfiore, equivalent to cavol cole + fiore < Latin flōri- (stem of flōs ) flower

Word History and Origins

Origin of cauliflower¹

C16: from Italian caoli fiori, literally: cabbage flowers, from cavolo cabbage (from Latin caulis ) + fiore flower (from Latin flōs )

Example Sentences

If you can do the cauliflower, you better be on your best behavior.’

From Slate

With lyrics including, “There was breaking of bones / and there’s knees to the balls,” this version of “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” celebrated the violence of UFC, from cauliflower ears to 300-pound Bosnian athletes vomiting up their own teeth.

From Los Angeles Times

In The Chinese Way, there is a sausage and cauliflower chow mein that is a winning combination and easy to put together – just as an example of a “nontraditional” chow mein dish.

From Salon

I can get root vegetables, I can get broccoli, cauliflower, whatever we have.

From Los Angeles Times

"I keep randomly shouting out 'broccoli' and 'cauliflower' - I think I might have florets."

From BBC