1. A plant of the genus Trapa bearing spiny four-pronged edible nutlike fruits
   "The water chestnut plant's unique fruits floated on the surface of the pond";
   - water chestnut plant, caltrop
    
2. Chinese sedge yielding edible bulb-shaped tubers
   "Water chestnuts add a distinctive crunch to stir-fries"; "Chinese water chestnuts add a distinctive crunch to stir-fries";
   - Chinese water chestnut, Eleocharis dulcis
    
3. Edible bulbous tuber of a Chinese marsh plant
   "The stir-fry included crunchy water chestnuts for added texture"

Derived forms: water chestnuts

Type of: aquatic plant, hydrophyte, hydrophytic plant, spike rush, tuber, water plant

Part of: genus Trapa, Trapa

Encyclopedia: Water chestnut