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View synonyms for pepper

pepper

[ pep-er ]

noun

  1. a pungent condiment obtained from various plants of the genus Piper, especially from the dried berries, used whole or ground, of the tropical climbing shrub P. nigrum.
  2. any plant of the genus Piper. Compare pepper family.
  3. any of several plants of the genus Capsicum, especially C. annuum, cultivated in many varieties, or C. frutescens.
  4. the usually green or red fruit of any of these plants, ranging from mild to very pungent in flavor.
  5. the pungent seeds of several varieties of C. annuum or C. frutescens, used ground or whole as a condiment.
  6. Baseball. pepper game.


verb (used with object)

  1. to season with or as if with pepper.
  2. to sprinkle or cover, as if with pepper; dot.
  3. to sprinkle like pepper.
  4. to hit with rapidly repeated short jabs.
  5. to pelt with or as if with shot or missiles:

    They peppered the speaker with hard questions.

  6. to discharge (shot or missiles) at something.

pepper

/ ˈpɛpə /

noun

  1. a woody climbing plant, Piper nigrum, of the East Indies, having small black berry-like fruits: family Piperaceae
  2. the dried fruit of this plant, which is ground to produce a sharp hot condiment See also black pepper white pepper
  3. any of various other plants of the genus Piper See cubeb betel kava
  4. Also calledcapsicum any of various tropical plants of the solanaceous genus Capsicum, esp C. frutescens, the fruits of which are used as a vegetable and a condiment See also bird pepper sweet pepper red pepper cayenne pepper
  5. the fruit of any of these capsicums, which has a mild or pungent taste
  6. the condiment made from the fruits of any of these plants
  7. any of various similar but unrelated plants, such as water pepper


verb

  1. to season with pepper
  2. to sprinkle liberally; dot

    his prose was peppered with alliteration

  3. to pelt with small missiles

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Other Words From

  • pepper·er noun
  • pepper·ish adjective
  • pepper·ish·ly adverb
  • un·peppered adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of pepper1

before 1000; Middle English peper, piper, Old English pipor (> Old Norse pipari, piparr ) < Latin piper < Greek péperi; compare Old Frisian piper, Dutch peper, Old High German pfeffar ( German Pfeffer ); these and Old English pipor perhaps < a common West Germanic borrowing < Latin

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Word History and Origins

Origin of pepper1

Old English piper, from Latin, from Greek peperi; compare French poivre, Old Norse piparr

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Example Sentences

My introduction to jerk chicken — its skin soaked in the flavor of sweet smoke, of Scotch bonnet peppers, allspice berries, ginger, and green onion — was during my first year of college, across the Hudson river from a New York town called Kingston.

From Eater

Others will also layer on a hint of ground chile or pepper to add a subtle kick.

The indictment accused him of using pepper spray on a handcuffed woman, filing a false report about the encounter and encouraging other officers to fake their reports, too.

How law enforcement cleared protesters In the same June 2 statement, Park Police said officers used “smoke canisters and pepper balls” to clear protesters but “did not use tear gas or OC Skat Shells.”

Rivera calls adobo and sazón the salt and pepper of Puerto Rican cooking, and he wants his customers to use the products exactly like that.

From Eater

Whisk in the half and half and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Rub the loin with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.

Sage and sausage patty came next, served between cumin scented Buttermilk biscuits and smothered in a black pepper country gravy.

Long gone are the days of the Young British Artists movement: now a salt-and-pepper-haired filmmaker is the artist of the moment.

Brush the pastry with egg wash and sprinkle with fleur de sel and pepper.

One whist table only is at work; General Pepper and three old hands of the same kidney are hard at it.

As, during the whole pepper-harvest, they feed wholly on this stimulant, they become exceedingly irritable.

"I think at least one of us ought to stay here until Mr. Ford comes," said Pepper.

"Let us go down the shore a bit," suggested Jack to Pepper and Andy, and the three joined hands for the spin.

Jack and Pepper watched Ritter closely and then looked questioningly at each other.

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pepopepper-and-salt