celery: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral
Quick answer
What does “celery” mean?
A cultivated plant of the parsley family, with long, crisp, pale green to white edible stalks, eaten raw or cooked.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A cultivated plant of the parsley family, with long, crisp, pale green to white edible stalks, eaten raw or cooked.
Beyond the vegetable itself, the word is sometimes used metaphorically to denote something plain, bland, or associated with health/dieting (e.g., 'celery-like existence').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic difference. Minor potential differences in cultivation varieties or local terminology for specific parts (e.g., 'celery heart').
Connotations
Similar in both dialects: health, crispness, sometimes blandness. In the UK, it is a staple of 'crudités' and 'cheese and celery' sandwiches.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “celery” in a Sentence
[verb] + celery: chop, dice, slice, eat, cook, grow, buy, washcelery + [verb]: celery grows, celery adds (crunch)[adjective] + celery: fresh, crisp, raw, cooked, organic, choppedVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “celery” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A (very rare; 'celery-green' as a colour descriptor)
American English
- N/A (very rare; 'celery-green' as a colour descriptor)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In the context of agriculture, wholesale produce, or food retail.
Academic
In botanical or nutritional science contexts.
Everyday
Discussions of cooking, grocery shopping, diet, and health.
Technical
Botanical classification: Apium graveolens var. dulce.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “celery”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “celery”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “celery”
- Misspelling: 'celary', 'cellery'. Incorrect plural: 'celleries' (usually uncountable; 'bunches of celery' is correct).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is usually uncountable (e.g., 'add some celery'). We count individual pieces as 'sticks' or 'stalks' of celery.
It's still called a stalk. The lighter, inner stalks are sometimes referred to as the 'celery heart' and are particularly tender.
Yes, celery leaves are edible. They have a strong, slightly bitter flavour and can be used as a herb or garnish, similar to parsley.
Bitterness can result from stress during growth (temperature, water), variety, or being from the outer, older stalks. The inner stalks (the heart) are typically sweeter and less fibrous.
A cultivated plant of the parsley family, with long, crisp, pale green to white edible stalks, eaten raw or cooked.
Celery is usually neutral in register.
Celery: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsel.ər.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsel.ɚ.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A (no common idioms with 'celery')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CELL (like a prison cell) that is very GREEN and healthy—you eat 'celery' in your cell to stay fit.
Conceptual Metaphor
CELERY IS BORING/HEALTHY FOOD (e.g., 'Their relationship was as exciting as a stick of celery.').
Practice
Quiz
What is 'celeriac'?