cabbage

Everyday

1. A cabbage is a round vegetable made of tightly packed green, white or purple leaves. tree →
2. Cabbage is the leaves of this plant eaten as food. tree →
3. (rude, UK slang) Calling someone a cabbage means they seem dull or unable to think or move. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons red cabbage juice is used as an indicator: it changes colour in acids and alkalis. In healthy eating lessons cabbage is a vegetable full of vitamins. In everyday life it is used in coleslaw, sauerkraut and soups. In gardening, caterpillars eat cabbage leaves.

Examples

• We grew cabbages in the school garden. tree →
• Red cabbage juice turns pink in vinegar. tree →
• Coleslaw is made with cabbage and carrot. tree →
• Caterpillars made holes in the cabbage leaves. tree →
• Nan cooked cabbage with the roast. tree →
• A cabbage weighs about a kilogram. tree →
• (rude) «Stop sitting there like a cabbage!» tree →
• See these lovely cabbages and these fresh herbs! tree →

Note

Countable for the whole vegetable (two cabbages), uncountable for the food (some cabbage). Spelling: double b, ends in -age. Calling a person a cabbage is unkind.