parsnip

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A parsnip is closer to a carrot than to most other root vegetables because it is long and grows underground, but it is usually pale cream rather than orange and has a sweeter, nuttier taste when cooked. A turnip is rounder, firmer, and often has a sharper taste, especially when raw. A sweet potato is usually much softer and sweeter after cooking, and its flesh is often orange or purple rather than pale white. In recipes, parsnip often appears in soups, roasts, and winter side dishes. For example: 'Roast the parsnips beside the chicken.' 'Add carrot and turnip if you want a mixed vegetable soup.'

Common collocations

Etymology

Parsnip came into English through Old French from Latin pastinaca, the name of this root vegetable. Earlier English forms varied in spelling, but the modern word kept the same basic meaning: a pale edible root used in cooking.