capsicum

UK: /ˈkæpsɪkəm/ US: (kap′si kəm)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

cap•si•cum  (kap′si kəm), n. 

1. Plant Biology any plant of the genus Capsicum, of the nightshade family, as C. annuum, the common pepper of the garden, occurring in many varieties.
2. Plant Biology the fruit of such a plant or some preparation of it, used as a condiment and intestinal stimulant.

• Neo-Latin, equivalent. to Latin caps(a) case² + -icum, neuter of -icus -ic
• 1655–65

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

capsicum / ˈkæpsɪkəm/ noun

1. any tropical American plant of the solanaceous genus Capsicum, such as C. frutescens, having mild or pungent seeds enclosed in a pod-shaped or bell-shaped fruit
2. the fruit of any of these plants, used as a vegetable or ground to produce a condiment

See also pepper4Etymology: 18th Century: from New Latin, from Latin capsa box, case²