beet

IPA/biːt/
KK[bˈit]IPA/biːt/

beet — noun

  • beetsingular
  • beetsplural

1. A crop grown on farms for its thick white root, which contains large amounts of

1.nounB1
Definition

A crop grown on farms for its thick white root, which contains large amounts of sugar and is processed to make sugar or fed to animals.

Example

Farmers in eastern France grow beet for the local sugar factory.

Most of the beet that Karim's family grows goes to an animal feed company.

collocation: grow beet / feed company

Common collocations
  • sugar beet
  • beet field
  • beet crop
  • beet sugar
  • grow beet
Synonyms
  • sugar beet

    the specific variety of beet grown for sugar production

Grammar Patterns

beet (singular) / beets (plural)

Usage Note

In British English, 'beet' without additional context usually refers to the sugar-producing plant. The red root vegetable is called 'beetroot'. In American English, 'beet' can refer to both the plant and the vegetable.

Common Mistakes

I grew beats in my garden.
I grew beets in my garden.
'Beet' is the plant; 'beat' is a verb or a musical rhythm.

2. A dark red root with a round shape that people cook and eat as a vegetable, comm

2.nounA2
Definition

A dark red root with a round shape that people cook and eat as a vegetable, commonly added to salads or used in soups and stews.

Example

Diya boiled the beets and added them to a simple potato salad.

collocation: boiled beets / salad

Esteban roasted the beets with olive oil and fresh garlic for dinner.

Common collocations
  • roasted beets
  • pickled beets
  • beet salad
  • beet soup
  • grated beets
Synonyms
  • beetroot

    the British term for the red root vegetable

  • red beet

    specifies the red variety as opposed to sugar beet or golden beet

Grammar Patterns

beet (singular) / beets (plural)

Usage Note

This is the common sense in American English. In British English, the red vegetable is called 'beetroot' rather than 'beet'. The skin and flesh stain easily, so cooks often wear gloves when handling raw beets.

Common Mistakes

I sliced the beet into the salad.' (in the UK)
I sliced the beetroot into the salad.
In British English, the red root vegetable is called 'beetroot', while 'beet' alone suggests the sugar-producing plant.

Word family

  • beetroot
    nounB1
  • sugar beet
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

Beet and beetroot refer to the same dark red root vegetable, but 'beetroot' is the standard term in British English while 'beet' is more common in American English — a shopper in London would ask for 'beetroot', while one in Chicago would ask for 'beets'. Radishes are much smaller, crunchy, and have a sharp, peppery taste, and are almost always eaten raw in salads. Turnips are round like beets but have white flesh with a milder, slightly sweet flavor, and are often roasted or mashed. For example, roasted turnip can replace potato in a stew, while a raw grated beet adds sweetness and deep color to a winter salad.

beet ↗beetrootradish ↗turnip ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • field of beets
  • beet harvest season

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld EnglishEnglish

The word 'beet' comes from the Latin 'beta', the ancient Roman name for the plant. It was borrowed into Old English as 'bēte' and later became the modern English form. Beets have been cultivated since prehistoric times — originally grown for their leafy greens, and later for their roots.

First known use

12th century

12th century, in the meaning defined above