: any of a genus (Asparagus of the family Asparagaceae, the asparagus family) of Old World perennial plants having much-branched stems, minute scalelike leaves, and narrow usually filiform branchlets that function as leaves
especially: one (A. officinalis) widely cultivated for its edible young shoots
Illustration of asparagus
Examples of asparagus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebCombine the sliced asparagus and tips with the beans, sorrel, parsley and chives in a large serving bowl.—Laura McLively, The Mercury News, 14 May 2024 Plus, the celebrity cook gave fans a peek into their big Easter feast — which was complete with steak, salad, potatoes and asparagus.—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 13 May 2024 At the turn of the 21st century, California growers were farming more than 36,000 acres of asparagus.—Defne Karabatur, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2024 The asparagus keeps it from feeling heavy and cutting the stalks into small coins miraculously doubles its volume.—Bon Appétit, 3 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for asparagus
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'asparagus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
New Latin, genus name, from Latin, asparagus plant, from Greek asparagos; perhaps akin to Greek spargan to swell
capitalized: a genus of Old World perennial herbs (family Asparagaceae) having erect much-branched stems, minute scalelike leaves, and narrow filiform branchlets that function as leaves
2
a
: any plant of the genus Asparagus
especially: a plant (A. officinalis) widely cultivated for its tender edible young shoots
b
: the root of cultivated asparagus formerly used as a diuretic
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