(~s)
1.
Carrots are long, thin, orange-coloured vegetables. They grow under the ground, and have green shoots above the ground.
N-VAR
2.
Something that is offered to people in order to persuade them to do something can be referred to as a ~. Something that is meant to persuade people not to do something can be referred to in the same sentence as a ‘stick’.
They will be set targets, with a ~ of extra cash and pay if they achieve them...
Why the new emphasis on sticks instead of diplomatic ~s?
= incentive
N-COUNT
see also ~ and stick