Pepper Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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pepper

[ˈpɛpər ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

cooking

Pepper is a pungent, hot-tasting powder or liquid made from dried and crushed peppercorns, used to flavor food.

Synonyms

condiment, seasoning, spice.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
pepper	Use 'pepper' when specifically referring to either the spice made from ground peppercorns or the vegetable known as bell pepper or chili pepper. Can you pass the pepper, please? I love adding bell pepper to my salads.
spice	Use 'spice' when referring to any dried seed, fruit, root, bark, or vegetable substance used to flavor food, or when talking about the broader category that includes various individual seasonings. Cinnamon is a spice often used in baking. Indian cuisine is known for its rich use of spices.
seasoning	Use 'seasoning' when referring to a mixture of spices and herbs used to enhance the flavor of food. I like to use Italian seasoning in my pasta sauce. She sprinkled some seasoning on the chicken before roasting it.
condiment	Use 'condiment' when referring to a substance, such as salt, mustard, or ketchup, that adds flavor to food. Ketchup is my favorite condiment for fries. Please put the condiments on the table before we start eating.

Examples of usage

Add some pepper to taste.
I prefer black pepper over white pepper in my dishes.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

botany

Pepper is a climbing plant of the family Piperaceae, the fruits of which are used to produce black, white, and green pepper.

Synonyms

peppercorn, piper.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
pepper	Typically used in everyday conversation and cooking to refer to the common spice added to food for flavor. It can also describe vegetables like bell peppers or hot peppers. Can you pass the pepper, please? I love putting pepper on my eggs in the morning.
peppercorn	Used when referring to the unground form of pepper. It often appears in recipes or culinary contexts where the whole spice is used. Crush the peppercorns to release their flavor. This sauce calls for freshly ground peppercorns.
piper	Although less common, it refers to the botanical genus Piper, which includes the plant species that produce peppercorns. It is usually seen in scientific or botanical contexts. Piper nigrum is the plant species that produces black pepper. Researchers study the growth conditions of Piper plants.

Word

Description / Examples

pepper

Typically used in everyday conversation and cooking to refer to the common spice added to food for flavor. It can also describe vegetables like bell peppers or hot peppers.

Can you pass the pepper, please?
I love putting pepper on my eggs in the morning.

peppercorn

Used when referring to the unground form of pepper. It often appears in recipes or culinary contexts where the whole spice is used.

Crush the peppercorns to release their flavor.
This sauce calls for freshly ground peppercorns.

piper

Although less common, it refers to the botanical genus Piper, which includes the plant species that produce peppercorns. It is usually seen in scientific or botanical contexts.

Piper nigrum is the plant species that produces black pepper.
Researchers study the growth conditions of Piper plants.

Examples of usage

The pepper plant requires a warm climate to thrive.
The berries of the pepper plant are harvested for their culinary uses.

^{Context #3 | Verb}

informal

To pepper means to sprinkle or cover with small drops or particles of something.

Synonyms

cover, dot, sprinkle.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
pepper	Use when describing adding a noticeable amount of small bits or particles, often in cooking or to indicate spreading something widely. She likes to pepper her salad with black pepper. The floor was peppered with confetti after the party.
sprinkle	Use when describing lightly scattering small particles or droplets, often in contexts like cooking or adding small amounts. He likes to sprinkle a bit of sugar on his cereal. Sprinkle some water on the plants.
dot	Use when referring to small, isolated points or spots, often for describing patterns or marks. The sky was dotted with stars. She wore a dress dotted with tiny flowers.
cover	Use when describing something that fully or partially places itself over another thing, often to protect or conceal it. You should cover the pot to let the stew simmer. The garden was covered with fallen leaves.

Examples of usage

The chef decided to pepper the dish with fresh herbs.
She peppered her conversation with jokes to lighten the mood.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'pepper'

The word 'pepper' originated from the Old English word 'pipor', which came from the Sanskrit word 'pippali' meaning long pepper. Pepper has been used for centuries in cooking and trade, with black pepper being one of the most traded spices in the world. It has a long history of being valued for its flavor and medicinal properties.

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,340 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.

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6337 outdoor
6338 affiliated
6339 hast
6340 pepper
6341 supper
6342 surveillance
6343 romance
...