lemon grass
B2Neutral to Formal
Definition
Meaning
A tropical, aromatic grass of Asian origin (genus Cymbopogon), used as a culinary and medicinal herb.
Refers to the long, thin, grey-green leaves and stalks of the plant, which impart a strong citrus flavour to food, drink, and aromatherapy products.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically used as a mass noun (e.g., 'add some lemon grass'). Can refer to the fresh, dried, or powdered plant material.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: Both regions predominantly use 'lemon grass' as two words. Hyphenated form 'lemongrass' is equally common in both, increasingly seen as a single word, especially in compound terms (e.g., lemongrass oil).
Connotations
Identical. Primarily associated with Southeast Asian cuisine and herbal remedies.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to broader culinary trends, but common in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + lemon grass (e.g., bruise, chop, add, infuse)lemon grass + [verb] (e.g., lemon grass grows, flavours, infuses)[adjective] + lemon grass (e.g., fresh, dried, powdered, wild)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to the term.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in contexts of food import/export, herbal product manufacturing, and restaurant supply.
Academic
Used in botany, ethnopharmacology, and culinary arts research.
Everyday
Common in cooking instructions, gardening discussions, and natural remedy conversations.
Technical
Specific to horticulture (plant hardiness, cultivation), phytochemistry (citral content), and gastronomy.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- To flavour a broth, one simply lemongrasses it by adding a few bruised stalks.
American English
- The chef lemongrassed the marinade for an authentic Thai kick.
adjective
British English
- The lemongrass scent in the room was from the diffuser.
American English
- She prepared a lemongrass tofu stir-fry for dinner.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I like tea with lemon grass.
- This soup smells of lemon grass.
- You need to buy fresh lemon grass for the curry.
- The recipe says to cut the lemon grass into pieces.
- After bruising the stalk, the lemon grass releases more of its essential oils.
- Its distinctive flavour comes primarily from the compound citral, abundant in lemon grass.
- The efficacy of citral, extracted from lemon grass, as a natural mosquito repellent is well-documented.
- Critics praised the dish for its nuanced balance, where the piquant lemon grass countered the richness of the coconut cream.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a LEMON growing on a blade of GRASS. This strange, fragrant grass smells like lemon.
Conceptual Metaphor
NATURAL FLAVOURING IS A PLANT (A source of flavour is conceptualised as a tangible, growable entity).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'лимонная трава' which is understood but non-standard. The standard term is 'лемонграсс' or 'цимбопогон' (technical).
- Do not confuse with 'мелисса' (lemon balm), which is a different mint-family plant.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect pluralisation (*lemon grasses) when referring to the ingredient in general (use uncountable). 'Lemons grass' (incorrect possessive form).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary culinary function of lemon grass?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are closely related species within the Cymbopogon genus. Citronella grass (Cymbopogon nardus) is primarily used for its insect-repellent oil, while lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) is cultivated for culinary use.
No. The tough, fibrous stalks are typically bruised, chopped, or pounded to release flavour and then removed before eating, or used only in infused dishes. The tender inner core of some stalks can be finely sliced and eaten.
Wrap it in a damp paper towel, place it in a perforated bag, and refrigerate for 2-3 weeks. It can also be frozen whole or chopped for longer storage.
The best substitute is lemon zest (from 1 lemon for 1 stalk), combined with a small leaf of lemon balm for the herbal note. It approximates the flavour but not the full aromatic profile.