Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Fennel \Fen"nel\ (f[e^]n"n[e^]l), n. [AS. fenol, finol, from L.
   feniculum, faeniculum, dim. of fenum, faenum, hay: cf. F.
   fenouil. Cf. {Fenugreek}. {Finochio}.] (Bot.)
   A perennial plant of the genus {F[ae]niculum} ({F. vulgare}),
   having very finely divided leaves. It is cultivated in
   gardens for the agreeable aromatic flavor of its seeds.

         Smell of sweetest fennel.                --Milton.

         A sprig of fennel was in fact the theological smelling
         bottle of the tender sex.                --S. G.
                                                  Goodrich.

   {Azorean, or Sweet}, {fennel}, ({F[ae]niculum dulce}). It is
      a smaller and stouter plant than the common fennel, and is
      used as a pot herb.

   {Dog's fennel} ({Anthemis Cotula}), a foul-smelling European
      weed; -- called also {mayweed}.

   {Fennel flower} (Bot.), an herb ({Nigella}) of the Buttercup
      family, having leaves finely divided, like those of the
      fennel. {N. Damascena} is common in gardens. {N. sativa}
      furnishes the fennel seed, used as a condiment, etc., in
      India. These seeds are the ``fitches'' mentioned in Isaiah
      (xxviii. 25).

   {Fennel water} (Med.), the distilled water of fennel seed. It
      is stimulant and carminative.

   {Giant fennel} ({Ferula communis}), has stems full of pith,
      which, it is said, were used to carry fire, first, by
      Prometheus.

   {Hog's fennel}, a European plant ({Peucedanum officinale})
      looking something like fennel.

Source : WordNet®

fennel
     n 1: any of several aromatic herbs having edible seeds and leaves
          and stems
     2: aromatic bulbous stem base eaten cooked or raw in salads
        [syn: {Florence fennel}, {finocchio}]
     3: leaves used for seasoning [syn: {common fennel}]