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Definition of "salsify" []

  • A European plant (Tragopogon porrifolius) having grasslike leaves, purple flower heads, and an edible taproot. (noun)
  • The root of this plant, eaten as a vegetable. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "salsify" in a sentence
  • "Unfortunately, salsify is often hard to come by because it's so difficult to harvest, but if you can't find any, celeriac is a perfectly acceptable substitute."
  • "Charging $150 to my card, I had seeds that promised to be carrots, zucchini, beans, peas, corn and something called salsify, which someone said tastes like oysters when cooked."
  • "We have tried all sorts over the years, most notably when "The Times" ran a promotion with the Heligan Gardens, the upshot being packets of rareties such as salsify and scorzenara arriving month by month."