Belgian endive

1 of 2

noun (1)

: the developing crown of chicory when blanched for use as a vegetable or in salads by growing in darkness or semidarkness

called also endive, witloof

endive

2 of 2

noun (2)

1
: an annual or biennial composite herb (Cichorium endivia) that is closely related to chicory and occurs in two common varieties:
a
: a variety (C. endivia var. crispa) having curly, usually dissected leaves : curly endive
b
: a variety (C. endivia var. latifolium) having broad flat leaves used especially cooked as a vegetable : escarole
2

Examples of Belgian endive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Chicory and bitter greens Popular in Italy and France, radicchio, Belgian endive, frisée and puntarelle are rich in inulin, which balances the gut microbiome. Dr. Steven Gundry, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2025 There’s also a divine course of shredded Belgian endive served atop a swirling spinach and hibiscus sauce. Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2025
Noun
Coconut water, goat’s yogurt, pomegranate, endive, mayonnaise, dog food, Vichy Catalan. Ming Liu, Robb Report, 23 May 2026 Carlos Cabral, bar manager at Wolfsbane turns to pickled endive to add a fun twist to Easter martinis. Jillian Dara, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for Belgian endive

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin endivia, from Late Greek entybion, from Latin intubus

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1894, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Belgian endive was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Belgian endive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Belgian%20endive. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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