capsicum Hear it!

capsicum definition

cap·si·cum (kap′si kəm)

noun

  1. any of a genus (Capsicum) of pepper plants of the nightshade family, with fleshy, usually red pods, including the hot peppers (Tabasco, bird, chili, cayenne) and the sweet peppers (bell)
  2. these pods variously prepared as condiments or, in medicine, as a gastric stimulant

Etymology: ModL < L capsa, a box (see case), from the shape of the seedpods

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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