turnip

UK: /ˈtɜː^rnɪp/ US: /ˈtɝnɪp/ ,(tûr′nip)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

tur•nip /ˈtɜrnɪp/   n. [countable]

1. Plant Biology the thick, edible, fleshy root of certain plants of the mustard family.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

tur•nip  (tûr′nip), n. 

1. Plant Biology the thick, fleshy, edible root of either of two plants of the mustard family, the white-fleshed Brassica rapa rapifera or the yellow-fleshed rutabaga.
2. Plant Biology the plant itself.
3. Plant Biology the root of this plant used as a vegetable.

• earlier turnep(e), equivalent. to turn (with reference to its neatly rounded shape) + nepe neep 1525–35

tur′nip•like′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

turnip / ˈtɜːnɪp/ noun

1. a widely cultivated plant, Brassica rapa, of the Mediterranean region, with a large yellow or white edible root: family Brassicaceae (crucifers)
2. the root of this plant, which is eaten as a vegetable
3. another name for kohlrabi

Etymology: 16th Century: from earlier turnepe, perhaps from turn (indicating its rounded shape) + nepe, from Latin nāpus turnip; see neep