tuber / ticket / nose
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tuber
A thickened, usually underground part of a plant that serves as a storage organ. Potatoes, celery, and dahlias form tubers.
Für das Gericht brauchen wir ein paar Kartoffeln und eine Sellerieknolle.
For the dish, we need a few potatoes and a celery root.
ticket
A colloquial expression for a fine or ticket, especially for illegal parking.
Als ich zum Auto zurückkam, klemmte schon eine Knolle am Scheibenwischer.
When I got back to the car, there was already a ticket stuck under the windshield wiper.
big nose
A colloquial and often slightly derogatory term for a large, thick nose.
Der Clown hatte eine rote Knolle mitten im Gesicht.
The clown had a red big nose in the middle of his face.
You can easily recognize the meaning of 'Knolle' from the context. In a supermarket or garden, it refers to the plant. When the topic is cars and parking, it means a ticket. When describing a face, it refers to the nose.
Für den Salat reibe ich eine Knolle Sellerie.
For the salad, I grate a celery root.
While the botanical meaning is neutral, the meanings for 'Strafzettel' (ticket/fine) and 'Nase' (nose) are clearly colloquial. They are used in informal conversation, but not in formal texts.
Pass auf, wo du parkst, sonst kriegst du eine Knolle.
Watch where you park, or you'll get a ticket.
When 'Knolle' means a ticket, typical verbs are 'bekommen' (to get), 'kriegen' (to get), or 'kassieren' (to get/receive). A person from the public order office can 'Knollen verteilen' (hand out tickets).
Gestern habe ich eine Knolle über 30 Euro kassiert.
Yesterday I got a 30-euro ticket.
root
Roots and tubers can both be found underground. The root anchors the plant and absorbs water and nutrients. A tuber, by contrast, is a thickened part of a plant that mainly serves as a storage organ, so it is not automatically a root.
Die Kartoffelpflanze bildet unter der Erde mehrere Knollen als Speicherorgane.
The potato plant develops several tubers underground as storage organs.
Die Möhre bildet unter der Erde eine kräftige Wurzel.
The carrot develops a strong root underground.
