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carrot
(redirected from Carotte)

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.
carrot, common name for some members of the Umbelliferae, a family (also called the parsley family) of chiefly biennial or perennial herbs of north temperate regions. Most are characterized by aromatic foliage, a dry fruit that splits when mature, and an umbellate inflorescence (a type of flattened flower cluster in which the stems of the small florets arise from the same point, like an umbrella). The seeds or leaves of many of these herbs have been used for centuries for seasoning or as greens (e.g., angelica angelica (ănjĕl`ĭkə), any species of the genus Angelica,
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, anise star anise (Illicium verum), an unrelated, slow-growing evergreen tree native to SE China and NE Vietnam that can reach 60 ft (18 m) in height. The unripe, anise-flavored, star-shaped fruit of the tree is used whole or ground in Asian cooking as spice and in traditional
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, caraway caraway, biennial Old World plant (Carum carvi) of the family Umbelliferae ( parsley family), cultivated in Europe and North America for its aromatic seeds.
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, chervil chervil (chûr`vəl), name for two similar edible Old World herbs of the family Umbelliferae ( parsley family).
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, coriander coriander (kōr'ēăn`dər), strong-smelling Old World annual herb (Coriandrum sativum
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, cumin cumin or cummin (both: kŭm`ĭn), low annual herb (Cuminum cyminum
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, dill dill, Old World annual or biennial plant (Anethum graveolens) of the family Umbelliferae ( parsley family), cultivated since at least since 400 B.C. The pungent, aromatic leaves and seeds are used for pickling and for flavoring sauces, salads, and soups.
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, fennel fennel, common name for several perennial herbs, genus Foeniculum vulgare of the family Umbelliferae ( parsley family), related to dill. The strawlike foliage and the seeds are licorice-scented and are used (especially in Italian cooking) for flavoring.
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, lovage lovage, tall perennial herb (Levisticum officinale) of the family Umbelliferae ( parsley family), native to the mountains of S Europe and cultivated elsewhere. Its aromatic fruits are used in soups and as a flavoring for confectionery and for some liqueurs.
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, and parsley parsley, Mediterranean aromatic herb (Petroselinum crispum or Apium petroselinum) of the carrot family, cultivated since the days of the Romans for its foliage, used in cookery as a seasoning and garnish.
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). The carrot, celery celery, biennial plant (Apium graveolens) of the family Umbelliferae ( parsley family), of wide distribution in the wild state throughout the north temperate Old World and much cultivated also in America.
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, and parsnip parsnip, garden plant (Pastinaca sativa) of the family Umbelliferae ( parsley family), native to the Old World. It has been cultivated since Roman times for its long, fleshy, edible root. Wine and beer have also been made from it.
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 are vegetables of commercial importance. The common garden carrot (Daucus carota sativa) is a root crop root crop, vegetable cultivated chiefly for its edible roots, e.g., the beet, turnip, mangel-wurzel, carrot, and parsnip. All root crops have a large water content and grow best in deeply cultivated soil in cool, overcast weather when the plant's loss of water
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, probably derived from some variety of the wild carrot (or Queen Anne's lace Queen Anne's lace or wild carrot, herb (Daucus carota) of the family Umbelliferae ( carrot family), native to the Old World but naturalized and often weedy throughout North America.
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). In antiquity several types of carrot were grown as medicinals, and in Europe carrots have long been grown for use in soups and stews. The custom of eating carrots raw as a salad has become widespread in the 20th cent. Carrots are a rich source of carotene (vitamin A), especially when they are cooked. Several types of carrot have also been cultivated since ancient times as aromatic plants. Some are still planted as fragrant garden ornamentals, such as the button snakeroot and sweet cicely. A few members of the Umbelliferae produce lethal poison; it was one of these, the poison hemlock, that Socrates was compelled to take. The water hemlock is also poisonous. Carrots are classified in the division Magnoliophyta Magnoliophyta (măg'nōlēŏf`ətə)
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, class Magnoliopsida, order Umbellales, family Umbelliferae.

carrot

Enlarge picture
Carrot (Daucus carota).
(credit: Kenneth and Brenda Formanek/EB Inc.)
Herbaceous, generally biennial plant (Daucus carota) of the parsley family, that produces an edible globular or long taproot in the first growing season. Native to Afghanistan and neighbouring lands, it is grown extensively in temperate zones. It is a rich source of carotene. An erect rosette of feathery leaves develops above ground in the first season; the edible carrot is below. After a rest period at temperatures near freezing, large flower stalks arise, bearing large compound umbels.


carrot
1. an umbelliferous plant, Daucus carota sativa, with finely divided leaves and flat clusters of small white flowers
2. the long tapering orange root of this plant, eaten as a vegetable


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