carrot

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) A vegetable with a nutritious, juicy, sweet root that is often orange in colour, Daucus carota, family Apiaceae, especially the subspecies sativus.
2. (countable, uncountable) A shade of orange similar to the flesh of most carrots (also called carrot orange).
3. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) Any motivational tool; an incentive to do something.
4. (UK, countable, derogatory, slang, uncountable) Someone from a rural background.
5. (UK, countable, slang, uncountable) A police officer from somewhere within the British Isles, but specifically outside of Greater London.
6. (countable, slang, uncountable) A redhead; a ginger-haired person

Verb

To treat (an animal pelt) with a solution of mercuric nitrate as part of felt manufacture.

Synonyms

cultivated carrot

wild carrot

Daucus carota sativa

carrot color

carrot colour

Queen Anne’s lace

incentive

inducement

lure

meed

premium

radish

reward

small

snare

trap

🪤

bargaining chip

indian carrot

gardner's yampah

bait

tapered leg

come-on

decoy

ginseng

guerdon

hook

🪝

Translations

carotte

🥕

carota

🥕

cenoura

🥕

Karotte

🥕

zanahoria

🥕

καρότο

wortel

Möhre

🥕

pastanaga

🥕

peen

🥕

Mohrrübe

🥕

جزر

havuç

🥕

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈkæɹ.ət/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: karette

In summary

From Middle English karette and Middle French carotte, both from Latin carōta, from Ancient Greek καρωτόν (karōtón). Doublet of carotte and related to caraway. Displaced native Middle English more, from Old English more, moru (“edible root, parsnip, carrot”), related to German Möhre (“carrot”).
* Noun sense of "motivational tool" refers to carrot and stick.
* Verb sense in felt manufacture refers to the orange colour of drying furs.