Illustration of asparagus
asparagus
noun
as·par·a·gus
ə-ˈsper-ə-gəs 
-ˈspa-rə-
plural asparagus
: any of a genus (Asparagus of the family Asparagaceae, the asparagus family) of Old World perennial plants having much-branched stems, minute scalelike leaves, and narrow usually filiform branchlets that function as leaves
especially
: one (A. officinalis) widely cultivated for its edible young shoots
Examples of asparagus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
On my recent visit, Ko’s menu featured Molokai purple sweet potatoes, sea asparagus, hearts of palm — even upcountry blueberries.
—
Ben Davidson, Mercury News, 1 May 2025
In the end, the judges choose the winning team and name Michelle — who once cooked asparagus next to Julia Child!
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 28 Apr. 2025
When choosing asparagus, look for bright green stalks with tightly closed and compact tips.
—Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 2025
Add the asparagus to the same skillet with a pinch of salt and pepper.
Cook for about 5 minutes, just to soften it slightly.
—Nicole Hvidsten, Boston Herald, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for asparagus
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Ben Davidson, Mercury News, 1 May 2025
In the end, the judges choose the winning team and name Michelle — who once cooked asparagus next to Julia Child!
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 28 Apr. 2025
When choosing asparagus, look for bright green stalks with tightly closed and compact tips.
—Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 2025
Add the asparagus to the same skillet with a pinch of salt and pepper.
Cook for about 5 minutes, just to soften it slightly.
—Nicole Hvidsten, Boston Herald, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for asparagus
Cite this Entry
“Asparagus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/asparagus. Accessed 14 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
asparagus
noun
as·par·a·gus
ə-ˈspar-ə-gəs
: a tall branching long-lived herb related to the lilies and widely grown for its thick edible young shoots
Medical Definition
asparagus
noun
as·par·a·gus
ə-ˈspar-ə-gəs
1
capitalized
: a genus of Old World perennial herbs (family Asparagaceae) having erect much-branched stems, minute scalelike leaves, and narrow filiform branchlets that function as leaves
2
a
: any plant of the genus Asparagus
especially
: a plant (A. officinalis) widely cultivated for its tender edible young shoots
b
: the root of cultivated asparagus formerly used as a diuretic
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share