- any of a genus (Beta) of plants of the goosefoot family, with edible leaves and a thick, fleshy, white or red root
- the root of any of these plants: some are eaten as a vegetable, some serve as a source of sugar, and some are used for fodder
Origin of beetMiddle English and Old English bete from Classical Latin beta
- A biennial Eurasian plant (Beta vulgaris) grown as a crop plant for its edible roots and leaves.
- The swollen root of this plant eaten as a vegetable, typically having reddish flesh.
- The sugar beet.
Origin of beetMiddle English bete from Old English bēte from Latin bēta
(countable and uncountable, plural beets)
- (singular only, sometimes definite) Beta vulgaris, a plant with a swollen root which is eaten or used to make sugar.
- The beet is a hardy species.
- (countable) An individual plant (organism) of that species.
- They sell beets by the pound in the supermarket. All I want is the roots. Can I cut off the roots and buy them alone?
- (countable) A swollen root of such a plant.