Broccoli is the name of a vegetableAn edible plant or part of a plant, eaten as food in the cabbage family. It is known for its green stalksLong, thin stems that support leaves, flowers, or buds and tight flower budsSmall unopened parts of a plant that can become flowers, which are usually eaten before they open.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈbrɑkəli/
Easy pronunciation: BROK-uh-lee (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Broccoli Meaning
the green vegetable with a thick stalk and tight little flower heads
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a plant in the cabbage family that grows dense clusters of green flower buds
Example: She steamed the broccoli and served it with garlic butter.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- brassica oleracea italica — Scientific name for the plant; accurate but not a normal everyday synonym.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Broccoli
Meaning 2
the edible green flower heads of the plant
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the branched green undeveloped flower heads of the broccoli plant, especially when used as food
Example: The recipe calls for chopped broccoli in the soup.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Broccoli Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- brassica oleracea italica
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use broccoli to mean the cooked vegetable only, but the word can refer to the plant itself or the edible flower heads.
- It is not a countable word in ordinary use when talking about food in general: people usually say "broccoli" rather than "a broccoli".
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does broccoli mean?
Broccoli means a vegetable in the cabbage family that grows tight green flower buds. It can also mean the edible flower heads of that plant.
What is a synonym for broccoli?
The only supplied synonym is the scientific name brassica oleracea italica. It is accurate, but it is not a normal everyday substitute.
Is broccoli a vegetable or a plant?
It is both. Broccoli is the plant, and the part people eat is the green flower head and stalk.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.