mustard

noun

mus·​tard ˈmə-stərd How to pronounce mustard (audio)
1
a
: a pungent yellow condiment consisting of the pulverized seeds of various mustard plants (such as Sinapis alba, Brassica juncea, and B. nigra) either dry or made into a paste or sauce (as by mixing with water or vinegar) and sometimes adulterated with other substances (such as turmeric) or mixed with spices
b
: the seed of a mustard plant used as a spice and in medicine as a stimulant and diuretic, an emetic, or a counterirritant
c
slang : zest
2
: any of several herbs (genera Brassica and Sinapis of the family Brassicaceae synonym Cruciferae, the mustard family) with lobed leaves, yellow flowers, and linear beaked pods
3
: a dark to moderate yellow
mustardy adjective

Illustration of mustard

Illustration of mustard
  • mustard 2

Examples of mustard in a Sentence

Would you like some mustard on your hot dog?
Recent Examples on the Web This chair is available in three colors: charcoal, moonlight, and mustard. Jenna Clark, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Feb. 2024 Add mustard greens, remaining ⅛ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder and remaining ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 24 Feb. 2024 Put the egg yolk, garlic, mustard and salt in a medium-size glass mixing bowl and slowly whisk in the oil until emulsified. Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2024 This recipe warms ham and Swiss on sweet Hawaiian buns topped with poppy seeds and a buttery mustard sauce. Jorie Nicole McDonald, Southern Living, 11 Feb. 2024 Divide the mustard green mixture between 4 plates and arrange one fillet on top of each. Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 24 Feb. 2024 This celery salad dressed with a simple mustard vinaigrette always makes an appearance on Testa’s holiday table but would serve as an excellent side dish any time of year. Saveur Editors, Saveur, 22 Feb. 2024 The inside of the Wienermobile has leather seats with ketchup red and mustard yellow colors. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 22 Feb. 2024 Garlic mustard is a member of the mustard family, not garlic. Deb Wiley, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mustard.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French mustarde, from must must, from Latin mustum

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of mustard was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near mustard

Cite this Entry

“Mustard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mustard. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

mustard

noun
mus·​tard ˈməs-tərd How to pronounce mustard (audio)
1
: any of several yellow-flowered herbs related to the turnips and cabbages
2
a
: a yellow sharp-tasting condiment consisting of the crushed seeds of various mustard plants either dry or made into a paste or sauce
b
: the seeds of a mustard plant

Medical Definition

mustard

noun
mus·​tard ˈməs-tərd How to pronounce mustard (audio)
1
: a pungent yellow condiment consisting of the pulverized seeds of the black mustard or sometimes the white mustard either dry or made into a paste and serving as a stimulant and diuretic or in large doses as an emetic and as a counterirritant when applied to the skin as a poultice
2
: any of several herbs (genus Brassica of the family Cruciferae, the mustard family) with lobed leaves, yellow flowers, and linear beaked pods see black mustard sense 1, white mustard
3

More from Merriam-Webster on mustard

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