1. a plant of the chicory family with blue flowers, whose root is used as a coffee substitute or additive
Usage: also spelled chicory; common in New Orleans coffee
2. the root of this plant, roasted and ground for use as a beverage or flavoring
Usage: culinary use

Examples

• The café added chickory to their coffee blend for a richer flavor.
• Chickory grows wild in many parts of North America.
• During wartime, chickory was used as a coffee substitute when beans were scarce.
• The blue flowers of the chickory plant bloom in summer.
• New Orleans is famous for its chicory coffee, which uses roasted chickory root.