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

This small French bakery serves up simple but flawlessly executed French bread, and the jambon beurre sandwich here, served with a thick slathering of butter, grainy mustard and ham on a crusty baguette, reigns as my favorite sandwich of the year. —Kaitlyn Rosati, New York Daily News, 25 Dec. 2024

There are only 8 ingredients This recipe is so easy, and is made from pantry staples and essentials most folks keep in their fridge: butter, cheese, bacon, dry mustard, salt, Worcestershire, and hot sauce. —Josh Miller, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2024

Mix Into Condiments Flaxseeds can also be added to everyday condiments like mayonnaise, mustard, and salad dressings. —Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Rdn, Health, 16 Dec. 2024

After being baked to warm the piggies and allow the dough to puff up and get golden brown, pigs in a blanket are often served with ketchup and mustard for dunking. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Dec. 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