turnip

noun

tur·​nip ˈtər-nəp How to pronounce turnip (audio)
1
a
: either of two biennial herbs of the mustard family with thick edible roots:
(1)
: one (Brassica rapa var. rapa) with globular often flattened roots and leaves that are cooked as a vegetable
(2)
b
: the root of a turnip
2
: a large pocket watch

Examples of turnip in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac recommends planting mostly root vegetables, including parsnips and turnips, and leafy greens such as kale and arugula in early April. McClatchy, Idaho Statesman, 5 Apr. 2026 Days are spent barefoot, raising turnips, sitting out by the lake, gazing at the cattle. Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026 Root crops like carrots, beets, radishes, turnips and parsnips don’t transplant well, so plant their seeds directly into the garden. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026 In Jewish tradition, the Talmud makes numerous references to pickled vegetables, particularly turnips, which symbolize abundance and endurance. Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for turnip

Word History

Etymology

tur-, perhaps from turn entry 1 (in the sense "shape into a rounded form by means of a lathe") + nip, reduced form of neep

Note: The word is first attested in the plural turnepez in a list of root vegetables appended to a collection of recipes (MS. British Library Sloane 1201; see Alicia Amherst, A History of Gardening in England, 3rd edition, New York, 1910, p. 68); the Middle English Dictionary dates it "about 1500." Compare parsnip.

First Known Use

1537, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of turnip was in 1537

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Cite this Entry

“Turnip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turnip. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

turnip

noun
tur·​nip ˈtər-nəp How to pronounce turnip (audio)
1
: either of two herbs related to cabbage with thick edible roots:
a
: one with usually white roundish roots and leaves that are cooked as a vegetable when young and tender
b
2
: the root of a turnip

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