carrot

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A long, pointed, orange vegetable that grows underground.

   She chopped some carrots for the soup.

2. 2
   noun

   Something offered as a reward to persuade someone to do something.

   The company used a bonus as a carrot to boost sales.

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.

Topics