ETYM French chicorée, earlier also cichorée, Latin cichorium, from Greek.
1. The dried root of the chicory plant: used as a coffee substitute; SYN. chicory root.
2. Perennial Old World herb having rayed flower heads with blue florets cultivated for its root and its heads of crisp edible leaves used in salads; SYN. succory, chicory plant, Cichorium intybus.
3. Plant with crisp, spiky leaves with somewhat bitter taste; SYN. curly endive.
Plant Cichorium intybus, family Compositae. Native to Europe and W Asia, it has large, usually blue, flowers. Its long taproot is used dried and roasted as a coffee substitute. As a garden vegetable, grown under cover, its blanched leaves are used in salads. It is related to endive.