pepper

[pep-er]

noun

1. a pungent condiment obtained from various plants of the genus Piper, especially from the dried berries, used whole or ground, of the tropical climbing shrub P. nigrum.

2. any plant of the genus Piper.

3. any of several plants of the genus Capsicum, especially C. annuum, cultivated in many varieties, or C. frutescens.

4. the usually green or red fruit of any of these plants, ranging from mild to very pungent in flavor.

5. the pungent seeds of several varieties of C. annuum or C. frutescens, used ground or whole as a condiment.

6. Baseball.,  pepper game.

verb (used with object)

1. to season with or as if with pepper.

2. to sprinkle or cover, as if with pepper; dot.

3. to sprinkle like pepper.

4. to hit with rapidly repeated short jabs.

5. to pelt with or as if with shot or missiles.

   They peppered the speaker with hard questions.

6. to discharge (shot or missiles) at something.

pepper

/ ˈpɛpə /

noun

1. a woody climbing plant, Piper nigrum, of the East Indies, having small black berry-like fruits: family Piperaceae

2. the dried fruit of this plant, which is ground to produce a sharp hot condiment See also black pepper white pepper

3. any of various other plants of the genus Piper See cubeb betel kava

4. Also called: capsicum. any of various tropical plants of the solanaceous genus Capsicum, esp C. frutescens, the fruits of which are used as a vegetable and a condiment See also bird pepper sweet pepper red pepper cayenne pepper

5. the fruit of any of these capsicums, which has a mild or pungent taste

6. the condiment made from the fruits of any of these plants

7. any of various similar but unrelated plants, such as water pepper

verb

1. to season with pepper

2. to sprinkle liberally; dot

   his prose was peppered with alliteration

3. to pelt with small missiles

Other Word Forms

• pepperer noun
• pepperish adjective
• pepperishly adverb
• unpeppered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pepper¹

before 1000; Middle English peper, piper, Old English pipor (> Old Norse pipari, piparr ) < Latin piper < Greek péperi; compare Old Frisian piper, Dutch peper, Old High German pfeffar ( German Pfeffer ); these and Old English pipor perhaps < a common West Germanic borrowing < Latin

Word History and Origins

Origin of pepper¹

Old English piper, from Latin, from Greek peperi; compare French poivre, Old Norse piparr

Example Sentences

The main course, a whole fried sea bream, served with a ginger fish sauce caramel, peanuts, herbs, lemon, and wild pepper leaves to delicately wrap each fried morsel, truly blew me away.

From Salon

Everyone is obsessed with heat, from “Hot Ones” to gas-station chips dusted in ghost pepper powder.

From Salon

Bread & butter pickles aren’t an ideal choice, but they could work for a spicier lemonade that incorporates cayenne pepper and jalapeños.

From Salon

The vast coastal plain grows most of the nation’s celery, along with beans, strawberries, onions and peppers, according to UC Davis data.

From Los Angeles Times

Using his rugged vocal delivery, Montana peppers his lyrics with amusing vulgarities.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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• deliver 
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• shove 
• start 
• thrust