spinach: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “spinach” mean?
A leafy green vegetable, eaten cooked or raw.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A leafy green vegetable, eaten cooked or raw.
Colloquially, refers to something of little or no value (e.g., 'not worth spinach'). Can also metaphorically refer to power or strength (from Popeye cartoons).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Cultural association with 'Popeye' is stronger in US.
Connotations
Generally neutral; associated with health, sometimes with childish dislike. UK: 'spinach' can be used jokingly for unimportant paperwork.
Frequency
Similar frequency. Slightly more common in US due to salad culture.
Grammar
How to Use “spinach” in a Sentence
[eat/have/cook] spinach[add] spinach [to the soup/salad][wash] the spinachVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spinach” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- spinach-filled pastries
American English
- spinach-flavored dip
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in agriculture, food retail, or health sector contexts.
Academic
Botany, nutrition, culinary studies.
Everyday
Common in cooking, shopping, dietary conversations.
Technical
Horticulture (Spinacia oleracea).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spinach”
- Spelling: 'spinage' (archaic). Pronunciation: over-emphasizing the 'a' sound.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually uncountable (e.g., 'some spinach', 'a lot of spinach'). It can be countable when referring to types or plants (e.g., 'different spinaches', 'three spinach plants').
Baby spinach is harvested from young spinach plants. It has smaller, more tender leaves and a milder flavor, and is often eaten raw in salads.
Yes, it is commonly eaten raw in salads and smoothies. Cooking can reduce its volume and change the texture and availability of certain nutrients.
In the Popeye cartoon series (from 1929), the character gains immense physical strength by eating canned spinach. This was partly to encourage children to eat vegetables during the Great Depression.
A leafy green vegetable, eaten cooked or raw.
Spinach is usually neutral in register.
Spinach: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspɪnɪtʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspɪnɪtʃ/ or /ˈspɪnɪdʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “not worth a hill of beans/spinach (informal, US)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Spin-ach: Imagine spinning a wheel made of green leaves to stay healthy.
Conceptual Metaphor
HEALTH IS GREEN (spinach as a prototypical healthy green vegetable).
Practice
Quiz
In informal American English, what can 'spinach' metaphorically represent based on Popeye?