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Broccoli: Definition, Health Benefits & Usage
Meaning 1：green vegetable (Broccoli)
Broccoli
/ˈbrɑːkəli/
n.
A green vegetable that looks like a small tree, often cooked and eaten for its health benefits.
green vegetable
➕
/ɡriːn ˈvedʒtəbəl/
n.
A green vegetable with a thick central stalk and branching green flower heads that resemble tiny trees, commonly eaten for its health benefits.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Italian 'broccolo' (cabbage sprout) < Latin 'broccus' (pointed).
💡 Mnemonic
Picture a 'bro' (friend) holding a tiny 'coli' (cauliflower) tree – that's broccoli.
📖 Example
For a quick and healthy dinner, I often roast broccoli with a little olive oil and garlic.
For a quick and healthy dinner, I often roast broccoli with a little olive oil and garlic.
🔗 Collocations
broccoli florets – the small, tree-shaped clusters that make up the head of broccoli
steamed broccoli – broccoli cooked by steaming, often served as a side dish
roasted broccoli – broccoli cooked in an oven with oil and seasoning until browned
🔄 Synonyms
cabbage (n.) – a leafy green vegetable closely related to broccoli, with a round head
cauliflower (n.) – a white vegetable with a similar structure to broccoli, from the same plant family
kale (n.) – a hearty leafy green vegetable also belonging to the Brassica family
🌱 Derivatives
broccolini (n.) – a hybrid vegetable with longer stems and smaller florets, also called baby broccoli
broccoli rabe (n.) – a leafy green vegetable with small florets and a slightly bitter taste, also known as rapini
📖 Cultural Story
Broccoli entered English in the 18th century from Italian, but became widely popular in the U.S. after Italian immigrants introduced it in the early 20th century.
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