spinach

spinach — noun

IPA/ˈspɪnɪtʃ/
KK[spˈɪnətʃ]IPA/ˈspɪnɪtʃ/

1. a leafy green plant whose broad, dark-coloured leaves people eat raw in salads o

1.nounA1
Definition

a leafy green plant whose broad, dark-coloured leaves people eat raw in salads or cooked in dishes such as soups, stir-fries, and pasta

Example

Tariq refused to eat his spinach even after his mother explained how healthy it was.

collocation: refuse to eat + spinach

Christopher added fresh spinach to his morning smoothie for extra vitamins.

collocation: add + spinach to [dish]

Common collocations
  • eat spinach
  • add spinach to
  • wash spinach
  • spinach leaves
  • spinach salad
  • fresh spinach
  • cooked spinach
Synonyms
  • kale

    a darker, tougher leafy green with curly leaves; often baked into chips rather than eaten raw in salads

  • chard

    a leafy green with colourful stems; has a slightly sweeter, earthier taste when cooked

  • lettuce

    a lighter, crunchier leafy green used almost exclusively raw in salads, not for cooking

Usage Note

Frequently uncountable — use 'some spinach' or 'a bag of spinach', not 'a spinach' or 'spinaches'.

Common Mistakes

I bought a spinach at the market.
I bought some spinach at the market.
Spinach is uncountable in English.
The recipe calls for two spinaches.
The recipe calls for two bags of spinach.
Use a quantity word; spinach has no plural form.

spinach — adjective

IPA/ˈspɪn.ɪtʃ/
KK[spˈɪnətʃ]IPA/ˈspɪn.ɪtʃ/

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Spinach, kale, chard, and lettuce are all leafy greens, but they differ in texture, taste, and use. Spinach has the mildest flavour and softest leaves, making it equally suited for raw salads and cooked dishes. Kale is tougher and chewier, so it is often baked into crisps or massaged with oil before being used in salads. Chard has colourful stalks and a slightly earthier, sweeter taste when cooked; it holds its shape better than spinach in stir-fries. Lettuce is the crunchiest and most watery, used almost exclusively raw in sandwiches and salads. The general term 'greens' can refer to any leafy vegetable but is more common in American English for cooked greens like collards or turnip tops.

kale ↗chard ↗lettuce ↗greens ↗

Etymology

PersianArabicFrenchEnglish

The word 'spinach' entered English in the 14th century from Old French 'espinache', which came from Arabic 'isbānākh', itself borrowed from Persian 'aspanākh'. The plant was originally cultivated in ancient Persia (modern-day Iran and surrounding areas).