Chickories

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of flowering plants belonging to the genus Cichorium, often used for culinary and medicinal purposes
2. These herbaceous plants produce edible leaves and seeds commonly utilized in salads and beverages
3. Representing a variety of species known for their distinctive blue flowers and bitter flavor profiles in food preparation

Etymology: "Chickories" is simply the plural of "chickory," a variant spelling of "chicory," the herbaceous plant whose leaves and roots are eaten in salads and whose roasted root has long been brewed as a coffee substitute. The plural form applies when referring to several distinct plants or kinds of the plant, which is the sense the definition describes. Because the form is a plain plural of an existing noun, there is no separate history to trace here. The word's origins belong to "chicory" itself, and the spelling "chickory" is one of the alternative forms of that same noun.

Synonyms: chicories, endives