fennel
n.n. a plant with green leaves and white flowers that looks a bit like dill. People use its seeds and leaves to add a sweet, anise-like flavor to food.
n. a perennial plant of the carrot family, characterized by feathery leaves and bulbous stalks. The seeds and leaves are widely used as a culinary herb and spice.
I added some fennel seeds to the soup for extra flavor.
The chef chopped fresh fennel bulbs into the salad to provide a crunchy texture and a mild licorice taste.
While often associated with Mediterranean cuisine, fennel is a versatile ingredient that can be used to season both savory stews and sweet baked goods.
From the Middle English fenel, from the late Old English finuðl, finule (weak feminine forms); fenol, finul (masculine forms), from Proto-West Germanic fenukl, from the Vulgar Latin fēnuclum, fēnoclum, from Late Latin fēnuculum, from the Classical Latin faeniculum, a diminutive form of faenum (“hay”); compare the Italian finocchio, the Occitan fenolh, the French fenouil, and the Spanish hinojo. Doublet of finocchio and finook.