carrot
UK[ˈkærət]US[ˈkærət]
n
A long, thin, orange-colored root vegetable that grows under the ground.
Etymology
The word 'carrot' entered English in the late 15th century from the Middle French 'carotte'. The French term derived from the Latin 'carōta', which was borrowed from the Greek 'karōtón'. The Greek word is believed to be related to 'kára', meaning 'head', likely due to the vegetable's rounded shape. This etymological journey from Greek to Latin to French and finally to English illustrates the typical transmission of Mediterranean agricultural vocabulary into the wider European lexicon.
Analysis
The word 'carrot' is a simplex loanword from French. It does not contain separable, meaningful morphemes within its modern English spelling.
Examples
She chopped a carrot to add to the soup.
Eating carrots is good for your eyesight.
The recipe calls for two large carrots, finely grated.