carrot
UK: ˈkærət | US: ˈkærət
n. 1. A tapering orange root vegetable, widely cultivated and eaten raw or cooked.
n. 2. Something offered as a reward or incentive (e.g., "the carrot of tax cuts").
The word "carrot" traces back to Greek karōton, likening the vegetable’s shape to a horn. It entered English via Latin carota and Old French carotte, where the diminutive suffix -ot subtly reinforced its tapered form. The modern spelling stabilized in Middle English, retaining the visual and linguistic nod to its horn-like appearance.
She chopped a fresh carrot for the salad.
Farmers grow carrots in well-drained soil.
The government used tax cuts as a carrot to boost the economy.
Carrot juice is rich in beta-carotene.
He nibbled on a carrot stick during the meeting.