carrot

noun

car·​rot ˈker-ət 

ˈka-rət

1

: a biennial herb (Daucus carota of the family Apiaceae synonym Umbelliferae, the carrot family) with a usually orange spindle-shaped edible root

also : its root

2

: a reward or advantage offered especially as an inducement

The company offered a carrot in the form of additional vacation time to workers who met their deadlines.

Examples of carrot in a Sentence

She chopped some carrots for the soup.

He added some grated carrot to the soup.

The company offered a carrot in the form of additional vacation time to workers who met their deadlines.

Recent Examples on the Web

At the edge of spring that meant warming dishes like meatballs over polenta huddled against sides of sauteed chard and roasted carrots. —Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2025

As a result, Mexico has had a much better relationship with the Trump White House than Canada, which has taken more of a stick than carrot approach. —Alex Thompson, Axios, 28 Mar. 2025

Players’ unions and rival leagues have all railed against the introduction of FIFA’s new flagship club competition but a carrot has now been dangled for competing clubs. —Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025

Thursday, April 10, Beef Stew with carrots, potatoes, onions and celery, whole grain roll, Mandarin oranges, milk. —Ramona Sentinel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French carotte, from Late Latin carota, from Greek karōton

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing carrot

• carrot-and-stick
• carrot cake
• wild carrot

Rhymes for carrot

• barret

Kids Definition

carrot

noun

car·​rot ˈkar-ət 

: the long orange edible root of a common garden plant that is eaten as a vegetable

also : a plant that produces a carrot

Medical Definition

carrot

noun

car·​rot ˈkar-ət 

: a biennial plant of the genus Daucus (D. carota) that bears seeds which have been used especially as a diuretic and stimulant and that in cultivated varieties has a yellow or orange-red tapering root which is used as a vegetable

also : its root