jalapeno

/ˌhæləˈpinjoʊ/

Other forms: jalapenos

A jalapeno is a small hot pepper, and it's also the name of the plant that grows these peppers. To make salsa, you need tomatoes, jalapenos, and a few other ingredients.

Most fans of Mexican food are familiar with green jalapenos, the usual stage at which they're picked. If you leave the peppers on the plant, however, the jalapenos eventually turn bright red. In English, the word is spelled either with or without the tilde accent over the n. This accent makes it clear that jalapeño is a Spanish word — and it means "of Jalapa," a place in Mexico known as the birthplace of the jalapeno.

Definitions of jalapeno

1. noun

   hot green or red pepper of southwestern United States and Mexico
   synonyms: jalapeno pepper

   types:

   chipotle

   a ripe jalapeno pepper that is dried and used in cooking, originating in Mexico

   type of:

   chile, chili, chili pepper, chilli, chilly

   a very spicy pepper used in cooking that adds heat and strong flavor
2. noun

   plant bearing very hot and finely tapering long peppers; usually red
   synonyms: Capsicum annuum longum, cayenne, cayenne pepper, chili pepper, chilli pepper, long pepper

   type of:

   capsicum, capsicum pepper plant, pepper

   any of various tropical plants of the genus Capsicum bearing peppers