mustard

noun

mus·​tard ˈmə-stərd 

1

a

: a pungent yellow condiment consisting of the pulverized seeds of various mustard plants (such as Sinapis alba, Brassica juncea, and B. nigra) either dry or made into a paste or sauce (as by mixing with water or vinegar) and sometimes adulterated with other substances (such as turmeric) or mixed with spices

b

: the seed of a mustard plant used as a spice and in medicine as a stimulant and diuretic, an emetic, or a counterirritant

c

slang : zest

2

: any of several herbs (genera Brassica and Sinapis of the family Brassicaceae synonym Cruciferae, the mustard family) with lobed leaves, yellow flowers, and linear beaked pods

3

: a dark to moderate yellow

mustardy

ˈmə-stər-dē 

adjective

Illustration of mustard

• mustard 2

Examples of mustard in a Sentence

Would you like some mustard on your hot dog?

Recent Examples on the Web

Garlic Mustard Pull, 2 p.m. at Potato Creek State Park: Volunteer to help combat invasive garlic mustard at Potato Creek. —Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 25 Apr. 2024

The collection presented was filled with oversized suede handbags in brown and mustard yellow–additional highlights included a colorful assortment of sunglasses, structured outerwear, and boxy medium-sized bags. —Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 24 Apr. 2024

The 8,600-square-foot space includes a café selling Hungarian sausage with bread and mustard and retro-inspired soft drinks, interactive displays and even an event room. —Alice Popovici, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Apr. 2024

Yellow mustard and pickle relish add some zip to the filling. —Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2024

Flip shrimp, then add lemon juice and mustard to skillet. —Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024

On the other hand, none of the ragweed, black mustard, spotted spurge, arborvitae, corncockle, rye brome, American burnweed, or broadleaf plantain seeds sprouted. —Kate Golembiewski, Discover Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024

Chicagoans generally pride themselves on dressing their dogs with other condiments, including mustard, neon-green relish, onion, tomato, a pickle spear, sport peppers and celery salt, all on a poppy seed bun. —Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024

Mustard is not prohibited on Passover but If your family avoids it during the holiday because of custom, use Passover mustard, which is made with turmeric instead of mustard seeds. —Yakir Levy, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French mustarde, from must must, from Latin mustum

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing mustard

• (as) keen as mustard
• cut the mustard
• Dijon mustard
• mustard gas
• mustard plaster
• nitrogen mustard
• white mustard
• wild mustard

Kids Definition

mustard

noun

mus·​tard ˈməs-tərd 

1

: any of several yellow-flowered herbs related to the turnips and cabbages

2

a

: a yellow sharp-tasting condiment consisting of the crushed seeds of various mustard plants either dry or made into a paste or sauce

b

: the seeds of a mustard plant

Medical Definition

mustard

noun

mus·​tard ˈməs-tərd 

1

: a pungent yellow condiment consisting of the pulverized seeds of the black mustard or sometimes the white mustard either dry or made into a paste and serving as a stimulant and diuretic or in large doses as an emetic and as a counterirritant when applied to the skin as a poultice

2

: any of several herbs (genus Brassica of the family Cruciferae, the mustard family) with lobed leaves, yellow flowers, and linear beaked pods see black mustard sense 1, white mustard

3

a

: mustard gas

b

: nitrogen mustard