Reading Theme:
Pepper: Definitions, Usage & Common Mistakes (3 meaning)
Meaning 1：spicy powder (pepper)
pepper
/ˈpɛpər/
n.
A brown or black powder made from dried berries, used to make food taste hot and a bit spicy.
spicy powder
➕
/ˈspaɪsi ˈpaʊdər/
n.
A seasoning made from ground dried berries that imparts heat and flavor to dishes.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'piper', via Old English 'pipor', ultimately of Indian origin.
💡 Mnemonic
Think of 'pep' in pepper—it adds energy (pep) to your food!
📖 Example
This noodle soup is good, but it needs a little pepper to give it more flavour.
This noodle soup is tasty, but adding some pepper would enhance its flavor.
🔗 Collocations
black pepper – The common type of pepper used as a spice.
ground pepper – Pepper that has been crushed into a fine powder.
pepper shaker – A container designed for sprinkling pepper onto food.
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
blandness (n.) – Lack of strong flavor; tastelessness.
🌱 Derivatives
peppery (adj.) – Having a hot, spicy taste similar to pepper.
📖 Cultural Story
Pepper originated in India and was a highly valued spice in ancient trade. The word derives from Sanskrit 'pippali', through Greek and Latin. It was so precious in medieval Europe that it was sometimes used as currency.
Meaning 2：bell pepper (pepper)
pepper
/ˈpɛpər/
n.
A hollow vegetable that is usually green, red, or yellow. Some are sweet, and some are very hot.
bell pepper
➕
/bɛl ˈpɛpər/
n.
A hollow, colorful vegetable often used in cooking for its sweet or mild heat, available in green, red, or yellow varieties.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
She chopped up a red bell pepper and added it to the salad for extra color and crunch.
She diced a red bell pepper and mixed it into the salad to add vibrancy and crispness.
🔗 Collocations
bell pepper – A sweet variety of pepper commonly used in salads and cooked dishes.
red pepper – A pepper that is red when ripe, which can be sweet or spicy.
stuffed pepper – A culinary dish where peppers are filled with ingredients like rice or meat.
🔄 Synonyms
capsicum (n.) – The botanical term for peppers, especially sweet types.
sweet pepper (n.) – A mild-tasting pepper, as opposed to hot varieties.
Meaning 3：sprinkle liberally (pepper)
pepper
/ˈpɛpər/
n.
To cover or sprinkle something with lots of small things, just like you sprinkle pepper on food.
sprinkle liberally
➕
/ˈsprɪŋkəl ˈlɪbərəli/
n.
To distribute small items or marks over a surface in a scattered manner, akin to sprinkling pepper on food.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
The old map was peppered with tiny dots representing ancient villages.
The ancient map was dotted with numerous small marks indicating old villages.
🔗 Collocations
pepper with – To scatter or dot something with numerous small elements.
peppered throughout – Distributed in many places within a text or area.
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
concentrate (v.) – To gather or focus in one specific place.
gather (v.) – To bring together into a single group or location.
🌱 Derivatives
peppering (n.) – The act of sprinkling or dotting something with small items.
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