dill
dill Lexical Profile
• noun
The delicate, feathery green leaves and aromatic seeds of the dill plant, harvested as a leafy culinary herb, vegetable, and spice for flavoring pickles, seafood, soups, and sauces.
"The chef garnished the poached salmon with fresh chopped dill and lemon wedges."
An annual aromatic herb of the celery family (Anethum graveolens), native to Eurasia and widely cultivated for its feathery, fern-like leaves and pungent seeds.
"She planted rows of dill and parsley in her backyard kitchen garden."
North American A cucumber pickled in a brine flavored prominently with dill weed or dill seed; a dill pickle.
"The deli sandwich was served with a crisp kosher dill on the side."
A tall, slender garden plant cultivated for its wide, flat-topped umbels of tiny bright yellow flowers, valued in ornamental gardens for attracting beneficial pollinators and in floral arrangements as airy filler foliage.
"The florist tucked several golden umbels of flowering dill into the summer bouquet."
Australian A foolish, simple, or gullible person (informal).
"I felt like a complete dill when I realized I had locked my keys inside the car."
• Rhymes for dill
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English dile, of Germanic origin; possibly related to Old Norse dilla ('to lull'), referencing the herb's traditional medicinal use as a carminative to soothe infants.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.