1
a peppercorn
peppercorn 是可数名词，指一粒胡椒粒，复数直接加 -s。
Add a peppercorn to the soup while it simmers.
汤炖的时候加一粒胡椒粒。
胡椒粒
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
胡椒粒
the dried berry of the pepper plant, used whole or ground as a pungent spice
Add a peppercorn to the soup while it simmers.
汤炖的时候加一粒胡椒粒。
胡椒植物Piper nigrum的种子,常用作香料,通常磨碎或压碎。
The seeds of the pepper plant Piper nigrum, commonly used as a spice, usually ground or crushed.
来自东印度普通胡椒植物浆果的辛辣调味料；可整粒或研磨使用
pungent seasoning from the berry of the common pepper plant of East India; use whole or ground
极少量；一点儿。
A small, insignificant quantity; a whit or jot.
Could you pick up some black peppercorns from the spice aisle?
你能从香料货架上拿一些黑胡椒粒吗？
Crush the dried peppercorns with the side of a knife before adding them to the pan.
把干胡椒粒用刀背压碎，然后再放进锅里。
The soup was seasoned with whole peppercorns and a little salt.
汤里放了整粒胡椒和一点盐来调味。
peppercorn 是可数名词，指一粒胡椒粒，复数直接加 -s。
Add a peppercorn to the soup while it simmers.
汤炖的时候加一粒胡椒粒。
grind 常与 peppercorn 搭配，表示“研磨胡椒粒”。
Grind the peppercorns into a fine powder.
把胡椒粒磨成细粉。
peppercorn rent 是固定搭配，指象征性的、极低的租金。
They paid only a peppercorn rent for the old shop.
他们为那间老店只付象征性的租金。
Not this
The recipe calls for three peppercorn.
Use this
The recipe calls for three peppercorns.
peppercorn 是可数名词，复数形式为 peppercorns。汉语名词没有复数变化，学习者容易漏掉 -s；three 后面必须用复数。
Not this
Add a pinch of peppercorns to the sauce.
Use this
Add a pinch of pepper to the sauce.
peppercorn 指整粒胡椒，通常不用“一撮”来计量；“a pinch of”修饰的是粉末状的调料，应说 pepper（胡椒粉）。中文的“胡椒”既可指整粒也可指粉末，所以容易误用。
Not this
I peppercorned the steak before grilling it.
Use this
I peppered the steak before grilling it.
peppercorn 是名词，不能直接当动词用。表达“给……撒胡椒”要用动词 pepper；如果想强调用整粒胡椒，就说 add peppercorns to ...。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
黑胡椒粒
Crush a few black peppercorns and sprinkle them over the salad.
压碎几粒黑胡椒，撒在沙拉上。
压碎的胡椒粒
The recipe calls for cracked peppercorns, not ground pepper.
这个食谱要用压碎的胡椒粒，而不是胡椒粉。
现磨胡椒粒
Add some freshly ground peppercorns to the soup for extra flavor.
在汤里加一些现磨胡椒粒提味。
胡椒粒酱汁
The steak was served with a creamy peppercorn sauce.
牛排搭配了奶油胡椒粒酱汁。
整粒胡椒
For a milder taste, use whole peppercorns and remove them before serving.
想要味道温和一些，就用整粒胡椒，上菜前把它们捞出。
象征性租金
The land was leased for a peppercorn rent.
这块土地以象征性租金出租。
象征性租金；名义租金
They pay a peppercorn rent for the old farmhouse.
他们为这座老农舍只支付象征性的租金。
Use peppercorn naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
胡椒粒（peppercorn）= pepper（胡椒）+ corn（谷粒），想象一颗胡椒像小玉米粒，又圆又辣。
语域：neutral 常见场景：cooking、recipes、grocery shopping peppercorn 多用于烹饪场景，指胡椒粒；在菜谱、超市和调味品语境中比较常见，属于中性词。
No listed word rhymes with peppercorn: its stress falls on /pep/, so a real rhyme would require the same vowel and following sounds (e.g. /…pəkɔːn/). Corn and popcorn share the spelled ending -corn (/kɔːn/) but are lookalikes, not rhymes, because that syllable is unstressed in peppercorn. Pepper, peppermint, peppery and pepperoni share the initial spelling pepper- but differ in stress and vowel sounds.
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.