I. ˈkȯlə, ˈkäl-, -lē also ˈkəl-+ˌ- noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: alteration (influenced by Latin caulis cabbage and English flower ) of earlier colieflorie, modification of Italian caoli fiori, plural of cavolfiore, literally, cabbage flower, from cavolo cabbage (from Late Latin caulus, alteration of Latin caulis ) + fiore flower, from Latin flor-, flos — more at cole , flower
1. : a garden plant ( Brassica oleracea botrytis ) that is closely related to the cabbage and is grown for its edible head of greatly modified and compacted white or purplish undeveloped flowers — see broccoli
2. : the flower cluster of the cauliflower used as a vegetable
3. : something resembling a cauliflower ; especially : a cloud shaped like a cauliflower cluster
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to disfigure (an ear) especially by repeated blows in boxing