cole

cole — noun

1. A leafy green vegetable from the cabbage family whose leaves grow in a loose, cu

1.nounC1
Definition

A leafy green vegetable from the cabbage family whose leaves grow in a loose, curling cluster instead of forming a compact round head. It is a category name that includes kale, collard greens, and similar brassica plants grown for their nutritious leaves.

Example

Caleb planted several rows of cole in early spring, knowing frost would sweeten the leaves.

plural form for multiple plants in farming context

The farmers' market sold fresh kale alongside other cole varieties.

cole as a category including kale

Common collocations
  • cole crop
  • cole family
  • cole plant
  • cole varieties
  • cole leaves
Synonyms
  • kale

    the most common curly-leafed cole variety, widely available in grocery stores

  • collard greens

    a flat-leafed cole variety common in Southern US and African cuisine

  • brassica

    the scientific genus name that includes all cabbage-family plants; broader than cole

Usage Note

In everyday conversation, the specific names 'kale' or 'collard greens' are far more common than 'cole'. The word 'cole' is used mainly in agriculture, botany, and food-industry contexts, often in compounds such as 'cole crop' (any cabbage-family vegetable grown for food) or the term 'coleslaw', which originally meant 'cabbage salad'.

Common Mistakes

I bought some cole at the supermarket.
I bought some kale at the supermarket.
When shopping, use the specific variety name (kale, collard greens, etc.) rather than the broad category 'cole'.

Word family

  • coleslaw
    nounB1
  • cole crop
    nounC1
  • kale
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Cole is a broad category name for leafy cabbage-family plants that do not form a tight head. Kale is the most familiar variety — curly leaves, often used in salads and smoothies. Collard greens have larger, flatter leaves and are typically cooked slowly in soups or stews, especially in Southern US cooking. Cabbage, by contrast, forms a dense round head and is a different growth form entirely, though it belongs to the same species (Brassica oleracea). Brassica is the scientific genus name for the entire group, covering not only cole and cabbage but also broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower. In short: cole is a farming term; kale and collards are what you buy at the store; cabbage is a head-forming relative; and brassica is the botanist's label for the whole family.

kalecollard greenscabbagebrassica

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • cole crop
  • cole family
  • cole plant
  • cole varieties

Etymology

LatinOld EnglishEnglish

Cole comes from Old English 'cawel', meaning cabbage or any plant of the cabbage family, which traces back to Latin 'caulis' (the stalk or stem of a plant). The same root gave Greek 'kaulos' (stem) and is the source of modern words like 'coleslaw' (from Dutch 'koolsla', literally 'cabbage salad') and the botanical genus 'Caulanthus'. The word has been used in English since before the 12th century, though many of its specific modern uses (like 'kale' from Scottish 'kail') have become more common than 'cole' itself.