As*par"a*gus (&?;), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;, &?;; cf. &?; to swell with sap or juice, and Zend &?;paregha prong, sprout, Pers. asparag, Lith. spurgas sprout, Skr. sphurj to swell. Perh. the Greek borrowed from the Persian. Cf. Sparrowgrass.] 1. (Bot.) A genus of perennial plants belonging to the natural order Liliaceæ, and having erect much branched stems, and very slender branchlets which are sometimes mistaken for leaves. Asparagus racemosus is a shrubby climbing plant with fragrant flowers. Specifically: The Asparagus officinalis, a species cultivated in gardens.

2. The young and tender shoots of A. officinalis, which form a valuable and well-known article of food.

&fist; This word was formerly pronounced sparrowgrass; but this pronunciation is now confined exclusively to uneducated people.

• Any of various perennial plants of the genus Asparagus having leaflike stems, scalelike leaves, and small flowers
  
• The young shoots of Asparagus officinalis eaten as a vegetable