broccoli Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun plant with dense clusters of tight green flower buds
    Brassica oleracea italica.
  2. noun branched green undeveloped flower heads

WordNet

Broc"co*li noun
Etymology
It. broccoli, pl. of broccolo sprout, cabbage sprout, dim. of brocco splinter. See Broach, n.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) A plant of the Cabbage species (Brassica oleracea) of many varieties, resembling the cauliflower. The "curd," or flowering head, is the part used for food.

Webster 1913