Simple Online Photographic Dictionary

The almond is the seed inside the fruit of the almond tree. Almond trees grow up to 10 metres tall. They are related to plums, cherries and apricots. Most people think of almonds as a nut, not the seed of a fruit.

Almonds can be eaten raw or roasted and salted, or used in cooking cakes and puddings.

Photo by Mynameisharsha

Amaranths are a large group of plants that include some fast-growing weeds. Some varieties of amaranth, particularly the grain amaranth, grow a large crop of highly-nutritious seeds, and are sometimes referred to as the 'crop of the future'.

Some species of amaranth have edible leaves and can be cooked or eaten raw as a salad vegetable.

Photo by Daviza

Anchovies are small, oily fish that are usually preserved in brine and matured. This process gives them a very strong flavour. Anchovies are used on pizza, on Caesar salad and as an ingredient in numerous other dishes. They are one of the main ingredients of Worcestershire Sauce.

Photo by stu_spivack

Scientific name: malus domestica

The apple is the fruit of the apple tree. Apple trees are small deciduous trees growing to around 5-12 metres high. Apples may be red, yellow or green. You can eat all of the apple except the core in the middle, which is full of seeds.

Photo by timlewisnm

Scientific name: prunus armeniaca

The apricot is a small, soft, sweet orange fruit closely related to the plum. You can eat the fruit fresh or dried, and apricots can also be made into jam.

Photo by Kkimpel

Scientific name: asparagus officinalis

The asparagus spears that you buy in the shops are the new shoots of a type of plant. They are eaten as a vegetable, and can be cooked in a variety of ways. They are usually eaten alone as a side dish rather than mixed into something else like a stew.

Photo by Bensonkua

Scientific name: persea americana

The avocado is the fruit of a tree native to south and central America. It prefers to grow in tropical areas.

Avocados are much higher in fat than other fruits. The avocado has a big seed inside it, and a hard skin, so you can only eat the soft flesh in between. Their flesh is yellow to green, and has a texture that is a little like butter, hence one of their common names of "butter fruit". The flesh of the avocado can be spread on bread or crackers, or the flesh can be diced and used as an ingredient in salads.

Photo by Sk8geek

Bacon is made from the meat of a pig. It is cured and smoked, and then sliced into thin strips. The part of the pig the bacon is taken from depends on what part of the world the bacon is made in. In America, the belly is used, and in Australia and the UK the back is used.

Bacon is most often eaten with eggs for breakfast.

Photo by Rick

Scientific names: musa acuminata and musa balbisiana

The banana is a tropical fruit and is eaten all over the world. Bananas can be eaten raw, cooked, or used in other foods like cake. The bananas in the picture are on a plate.

Photo by Gurdonark

The bean is the seed of the bean plant. It is eaten for food, with or without its pod, or used to improve soil. Beans are in the same family as peas. The picture is of some different coloured string beans, still in their pods.

Photo by Sleepyneko