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Glite Dictionary
Raphanus sativus

Raphanus sativus

6.7
A small root vegetable with a sharp taste that is often eaten raw
  • noun
  • /ˈræfənəs ˈsætɪvəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Raphanus sativus
  • The crisp root of Raphanus sativus is a refreshing addition to summer salads.

Examples

  • Farmers rotate crops like Raphanus sativus to improve soil quality and reduce pests.

  • Botanists have documented several varieties of Raphanus sativus cultivated worldwide.

  • I added Raphanus sativus to my salad for extra crunch.

  • Have you tried Raphanus sativus in your dishes?

  • The crisp root of Raphanus sativus is a refreshing addition to summer salads.

  • Farmers rotate crops like Raphanus sativus to improve soil quality and reduce pests.

  • Botanists have documented several varieties of Raphanus sativus cultivated worldwide.

Synonyms

radish
vsRaphanus sativus
14 1.0

A small round root vegetable with a sharp, spicy taste often eaten raw

is the whole plant grown for that pungent edible root
radish plant
vsRaphanus sativus
1.6

A vegetable with a spicy, crunchy root that people eat

is the Eurasian cultivated plant usually eaten raw as a vegetable

Surface Forms

Raphanus sativus singular
Raphanus sativuses plural

Morphology

Raphanus + sativus

This is a Latin taxonomic binomial composed of specialized proper names rather than ordinary English morphemes; a B1 learner knowing the constituent labels would not be able to infer that it denotes the common vegetable 'radish'. The epithet 'sativus' is not a productive English word (its Latin sense 'cultivated' is unlikely to be known), so the species name is essentially technical and non-compositional for typical learners.

Etymology

Raphanus sativus is the scientific Latin name for the common radish. It may come from the old word Raphanus for radish and sativus, meaning 'sown' or 'cultivated', so the name points to the radish grown in gardens for its sharp, edible root.