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Glossary of Cooking Terms
beginning with letter S
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sago Tweet Definition of sago Like Definition of sago on Facebook
noun
  1. A powdered starch obtained from certain palms used as a food thickener.
  2. Any of the palms from which sago is extracted.
salad Tweet Definition of salad Like Definition of salad on Facebook
noun
  1. A food made primarily of a mixture of raw ingredients, typically vegetables, usually served with a dressing such as vinegar or mayonnaise.
salamander Tweet Definition of salamander Like Definition of salamander on Facebook
noun
  1. A (usually) terrestrial amphibian, resembling a lizard; taxonomic order Caudata
  2. (mythology) A creature much like a lizard that is resistant to and lives in fire, hence the elemental being of fire.
  3. (cooking) A metal utensil with a flat head which is heated and put over a dish to brown the top.
1977: The salamander, a fairly long metal utensil with a flat rounded head, was left in the fire until red hot and then used to brown the top of a dish without further cooking. — Richard Daunton-Fear and Penelope Vigar, Australian Colonial Cookery, Rigby, 1977, ISBN 0-7270-0187-6, page 41 (discussing 19th century cookery)
  1. (cooking) In a professional kitchen a small broiler, used primarily for browning.
The chef first put the steak under the to sear the outside.
verb
  1. To apply a
    1. Noun, salamander (flat iron utensil above) in a cooking process.
    19th C.: When cold, sprinkle the custard thickly with sugar and it. — a 19th century crème brí»lée recipe quoted in Richard Daunton-Fear and Penelope Vigar, Australian Colonial Cookery, Rigby, 1977, ISBN 0-7270-0187-6, page 41
salami Tweet Definition of salami Like Definition of salami on Facebook
noun (uncountable)
  1. A highly seasoned type of large sausage of Italian origin, typically made from chopped pork or beef and often garlic, and served in slices.
  2. (baseball) A grand slam
salmagundi Tweet Definition of salmagundi Like Definition of salmagundi on Facebook
noun
  1. A mixture of chopped meat and pickled herring, with oil, vinegar, pepper, and onions.
  2. Hence, a mixture of various ingredients; an olio or medley; a potpourri; a miscellany.
salmi Tweet Definition of salmi Like Definition of salmi on Facebook
noun
  1. (rare) A rich stew or ragout, especially of game.
salmis Tweet Definition of salmis Like Definition of salmis on Facebook
noun
  1. (plural of, salmi)
salsa Tweet Definition of salsa Like Definition of salsa on Facebook
noun
  1. (countable) A spicy tomato sauce, often including onions and hot peppers.
  2. (context, uncountable, music) A style of music originally from Puerto Rico heavily influenced by Spanish rhythms and jazz.
  3. (context, countable, dance) Any of several dances performed to Salsa music.
salt Tweet Definition of salt Like Definition of salt on Facebook
noun
  1. A common substance recognised chemically as sodium chloride (NaCl?), used extensively as a condiment and preservative.
  2. (chemistry) One of the compounds formed from the reaction of an acid with a base, where a positive ion replaces a hydrogen of the acid.
  3. A kind of marsh at the shore of a sea (short for salt marsh, apparently not in a wide-spread use).
  4. (slang) A sailor (also old salt).
  5. (cryptography) Additional bytes inserted into a plaintext message before encryption, in order to increase randomness and render brute force, brute-force decryption more difficult.
verb
  1. (transitive) To add salt to.
  2. (mining) To blast gold into (as a portion of a mine) in order to cause to appear to be a productive seam.
  3. (cryptography) To add filler bytes before encrypting, in order to make brute-force decryption more resource-intensive.
  4. To include colorful language in.
  5. To insert or inject something into an object to give it properties it would not naturally have.
adjective
  1. salty, Salty.
  2. saline, Saline.
saltimbocca Tweet Definition of saltimbocca Like Definition of saltimbocca on Facebook
noun
  1. (Italian dish) an Italian dish of veal, thinly sliced and rolled in prosciutto ham and sage leaves.
sambal Tweet Definition of sambal Like Definition of sambal on Facebook
noun
  1. (South African English) relish, Relish.
samovar Tweet Definition of samovar Like Definition of samovar on Facebook
noun
  1. a metal urn with a spigot, for boiling water for making tea. Traditionally, the water is heated by hot coals or charcoal in a chimney-like tube which runs through the center of the urn. Today, it is more likely that the water is heated by an electric coil. It is a common misconception that tea is boiled in the samovar. This is not the case. The samovar merely boils the water, which is drawn off via the spigot into a separate teapot in which the tea is allowed to steep.
Sandwich Tweet Definition of Sandwich Like Definition of Sandwich on Facebook
proper noun
  1. a town in Kent, south-east England, one of the historic Cinque Ports
  2. an English habitational surname originating from this town
  3. one of several younger towns named after the town in Kent or a person bearing the surname:
    • Sandwich, Massachusetts, pop. 20,136 (2000)
    • Sandwich, Illinois, pop. 6,509 (2000)
    • Sandwich, New Hampshire, pop. 1,286 (2000)
sarsaparilla Tweet Definition of sarsaparilla Like Definition of sarsaparilla on Facebook
noun
  1. Any of various tropical American vines, of the genus Smilax, having fragrant roots
  2. The dried roots of these plants, or a flavoring material extracted from these roots
  3. A soft drink flavored with this extract
  4. Any of several North American plants, of the genus Aralia, having umbels and small white flowers
sashimi Tweet Definition of sashimi Like Definition of sashimi on Facebook
noun
  1. A type of sushi consisting of only the thin slices of raw fish.
adjective
  1. Of or pertaining to the type of sushi served without sticky white rice.
sate Tweet Definition of sate Like Definition of sate on Facebook
noun
  1. satay
verb (sat, ing)
  1. To satisfy; fill up
At last he stopped, his hunger and thirst sated.
sauce Tweet Definition of sauce Like Definition of sauce on Facebook
noun
  1. A liquid (often thickened) condiment or accompaniment to food
  2. cheek, impertinence
  3. booze, alcohol
  4. (bodybuilding) anabolic steroids
verb (sauc, ing)
  1. to apply sauce
  2. to give cheek
saucier Tweet Definition of saucier Like Definition of saucier on Facebook
noun
  1. In a large professional kitchen, a cook responsible for preparing sauces and for sauteing foods on demand.
adjective
  1. (comparative of, saucy)
sauerkraut Tweet Definition of sauerkraut Like Definition of sauerkraut on Facebook
noun
  1. A dish made by fermenting finely chopped cabbage.
sausage Tweet Definition of sausage Like Definition of sausage on Facebook
noun
  1. A food made of ground meat and other animal parts, herbs and spices, and sometimes other ingredients, generally packed in a casing (traditionally the intestines of the animal), and preserved in some way; usually somewhat hard and cut into slices for eating.
  2. A small, soft version of this food that must be cooked before eating and is often sold in strings.
savory Tweet Definition of savory Like Definition of savory on Facebook
noun (savories)
  1. Any of several Mediterranean herbs, of the genus Satureja, grown as culinary flavourings
  2. The leaves of these plants used as a flavouring
adjective (US spelling), savoury (UK spelling)
  1. Salty or Non-Sweet, non vegetable
the mushrooms, meat, bread, rice, peanuts and potatoes were all good foods.
  1. tasty, Tasty, attractive to the palate.
The fine restaurant presented an array of dishes; each was delicious.
  1. Not overly sweet.
Savory duck contrasted well with the sweet sauce.
scallop Tweet Definition of scallop Like Definition of scallop on Facebook
noun
  1. Any of various marine bivalve molluscs of the family Pectinidae which are free-swimming.
  2. a curved projection, making part of a decoration
  3. a fillet of meat
  4. a form of fried potato
verb
  1. (transitive) to make or cook scallops
  2. (intransitive) to harvest scallops
scampi Tweet Definition of scampi Like Definition of scampi on Facebook
noun (pl=scampi)
  1. a large cooked shrimp
  2. a langoustine or Dublin Bay prawn
Scone Tweet Definition of Scone Like Definition of Scone on Facebook
proper noun
  1. A village north of Perth in Scotland; the coronation site of Scottish kings until 1651
score Tweet Definition of score Like Definition of score on Facebook
noun
  1. The total number of points earned by a participant in a game.
The is 4-0 although it's not even half-time!
  1. (archaic) Twenty, 20 (number).
Some words have scores of meanings.
    • 1863 November 19, Abraham Lincoln, The Gettysburg Address, based on the signed "Bliss Copy"
    • : "Four and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."
      1. (music) A book or set of pages showing all the parts for a musical composition.
      2. (cricket) A presentation of how many runs a side has scored, and how many wickets have been lost.
      England had a of 107 for 5 at lunch.
      1. (cricket) The number of runs scored by a batsman, or by a side, in either an innings or a match.
      2. subject
    • 2005, w:Plato, Plato, Sophist. Translation by Lesley Brown. w:Stephanus pagination, 245e.
    • : Well, although we haven't discusse the views of all those who make precise reckonings of being and not <being>, we've done enough on that .
verb (scor, ing)
  1. (intransitive) To earn points in a game.
Pelé scores again!
  1. (transitive) To earn points in a game.
It is unusual for a team to a hundred goals in one game.
  1. (transitive) To scratch (paper or cardboard) with a sharp implement to make it easier to fold.
  2. (transitive) (slang) To obtain (usually used in reference to illegal drugs, but often sex with a casual partner).
<!-- This includes in the previous one, doesn't it?
  1. (intransitive) (slang) To have sexual intercourse. -->
scramble Tweet Definition of scramble Like Definition of scramble on Facebook
noun
  1. A rush or hurry
  2. (military) An emergency defensive air force mission to intercept attacking enemy aircraft.
  3. A motocross race
verb (scrambl, ed)
  1. To move hurriedly to a location using all limbs against a surface.
  2. To proceed to a location or an objective in a disorderly manner.
  3. To mix food ingredients in a mix to be cooked into a loose mass.
  4. To process telecommunication signals to make them unintelligable to an unauthorized listener.
  5. (military) To quickly enter vehicles, usually aircraft, and proceed to a destination in response to an alert, usually to intercept an attacking enemy.
  1. (sports) To partake in motocross
    1. To ascend rocky terrain as a leisure activity
seafood Tweet Definition of seafood Like Definition of seafood on Facebook
noun
  1. edible, Edible fish or shellfish from the sea (but not edible seaweed).
seasoning Tweet Definition of seasoning Like Definition of seasoning on Facebook
noun
  1. something used to add taste or flavour to food, such as a condiment, herb or spice
seltzer Tweet Definition of seltzer Like Definition of seltzer on Facebook
noun
  1. (uncountable) carbonated, Carbonated water.
adjective
  1. carbonated
    water
semolina Tweet Definition of semolina Like Definition of semolina on Facebook
noun
  1. hard grains of flour left after milling
shank Tweet Definition of shank Like Definition of shank on Facebook
noun
  1. The lower part of the leg; shin.
  2. meat, Meat from that part of an animal.
  3. A straight, narrow part of an object; shaft; stem
  4. A protruding part of an object, by which it is or can be attached.
  5. The metal part on a curb bit that falls below the mouthpiece of the bit, which length controls the severity of the leverage action of the bit, and to which the reins of the bridle are attached
  6. (sports) A poorly played golf shot in which the ball is struck by the part of the club head that connects to the shaft. See thin,fat,toe
  7. (slang) An improvised stabbing weapon
  8. (slang) Bad.
verb
  1. (archaic) To travel on foot
  2. (slang) To stab
adjective
  1. bad, Bad.
shell Tweet Definition of shell Like Definition of shell on Facebook
noun
  1. A hard outside covering, as of a fruit or an animal:
    • The covering, or outside part, of a nut; as, a hazelnut shell.
    • A pod.
    • The hard covering of an egg.
    • The hard calcareous or chitinous external covering of mollusks, crustaceans, and some other invertebrates. In some mollusks, as the cuttlefishes, it is internal, or concealed by the mantle. Also, the hard covering of some vertebrates, as the armadillo, the tortoise, and the like.
    • The husks of cacao seeds, a decoction of which is often used as a substitute for chocolate, cocoa, etc.
      1. Hence, by extension, any mollusks having such a covering.
      2. (plural: ) An artillery projectile or charge case:
    • A hollow projectile, of various shapes, adapted for a mortar or a cannon, and containing an explosive substance, ignited with a fuze or by percussion, by means of which the projectile is burst and its fragments scattered. See Bomb.
    • The case which holds the powder, or charge of powder and shot, used with breechloading small arms.
      1. Any slight hollow structure; a framework, or exterior structure, regarded as not complete or filled in; as, the shell of a house.
      2. (garment) A top, usually worn by women, with short or no sleeves that fastens, if it does, in the rear.
      3. A coarse kind of coffin; also, a thin interior coffin inclosed in a more substantial one.
      4. (music) An instrument of music, as a lyre, -- the first lyre having been made, it is said, by drawing strings over a tortoise shell.
      5. An engraved copper roller used in print works.
      6. The outer frame or case of a block within which the sheaves revolve.
      7. (nautical) A light boat the frame of which is covered with thin wood or with paper; as, a racing shell.
      8. A drum shell; the usually wooden, cylindrical acoustic chamber, with or without rims added for tuning and attaching drum heads.
      9. (computing) A general-purpose environment, usually CLI, command-line-oriented, within which other commands are invoked and their interactions controlled.
      10. (context, chemistry) A set of atomic orbitals that have the same principal quantum number.
verb
  1. To remove the outer covering or shell of something. See sheller.
  2. To bombard, to fire projectiles at.
  3. (informal) To disburse or give up money, to pay. (Often used with out).
shepherd's pie Tweet Definition of shepherd Like Definition of shepherd
noun
  1. a dish consisting of minced lamb or mutton flavoured with vegetables, covered with mashed potato and baked
shish kebab Tweet Definition of shish kebab Like Definition of shish kebab on Facebook
noun
  1. Small cubes of any kind of meat, fowl or fish with or without vegetables that are skewered on a wooden or metal stick and roasted in an oven or over an open fire.
shoestring Tweet Definition of shoestring Like Definition of shoestring on Facebook
noun
  1. the string or lace used to secure the shoe to the foot; a shoelace
    Your is untied.
  2. a tight budget; very little money
    He did all that on a budget.
  3. a long narrow cut of a food; a julienne
    French fries
shortbread Tweet Definition of shortbread Like Definition of shortbread on Facebook
noun
  1. A type of biscuit (cookie), popular in Britain, traditionally made from one part sugar, two parts butter and three parts flour
shorten Tweet Definition of shorten Like Definition of shorten on Facebook
verb
  1. (transitive) To make shorter; to abbreviate.
  2. (intransitive) To become shorter.
shortening Tweet Definition of shortening Like Definition of shortening on Facebook
noun
  1. (cooking) fat such as butter, lard or hydrogenated vegetable oil used to make shortcrust pastry.
  2. verbal noun form of shorten.
verb
  1. (present participle of, shorten)
shoulder Tweet Definition of shoulder Like Definition of shoulder on Facebook
noun
  1. (anatomy) The joint between the arm and the torso, sometimes including the surrounding area.
have broad shoulders
  1. A part of a road where drivers may stop in an emergency; a hard shoulder (UK)
He stopped the car on the of the highway to change the flat tire.
verb
  1. (context, transitive) To push (a person or thing) using one's shoulder.
  2. (context, transitive) To carry (something) on one's shoulders.
  3. (context, figurative, transitive) To accept responsibility for.
shoulder the blame
side Tweet Definition of side Like Definition of side on Facebook
noun
  1. A bounding straight edge of an object.
A square has four sides.
  1. A flat surface of a solid object.
A cube has six sides.
  1. The left or right half of something.
Which of the tray shall I put it on?
  1. A region in a specified position with respect to something.
Meet me on the north of the monument.
  1. One surface of a sheet of paper (used instead of "page", which can mean one or both surfaces.)
John wrote 15 sides for his essay!
  1. One possible aspect of a concept.
Look on the bright .
  1. One set of competitors in a game.
Which has kick-off?
  1. A group having a particular allegiance in a conflict or competition.
In the second world war, the Italians were on the of the Germans.
  1. (context, sports, billiards, snooker, pool) sidespin, Sidespin
He had to put a bit of on to hit the pink ball
  1. A television channel, usually as opposed to the one currently being watched.
I just want to see what's on the other &mdash; James said there was a good film on tonight.
  1. (US, colloquial) A side dish.
Do you want a of cole-slaw with that?
verb (sid, ing)
  1. (usually with "with") To be in an alliance with.
Which will you with, good or evil?
simmer Tweet Definition of simmer Like Definition of simmer on Facebook
noun
  1. the state or process of simmering.
The kettle was kept on the .
verb (simmers, simmering, simmered, simmered)
  1. (transitive) to boil slowly at or below the boiling point
Simmer the soup for five minutes, then serve.
  1. (intransitive) to boil slowly at or below the boiling point
Simmering water is hot.
sirloin Tweet Definition of sirloin Like Definition of sirloin on Facebook
noun
  1. A cut of beef from the lower part of the ribs
skewer Tweet Definition of skewer Like Definition of skewer on Facebook
noun
  1. A long pin, normally of metal or wood, used to secure food during cooking.
  2. (chess) A scenario in which a piece attacks a more valuable piece which, if it moves aside, reveals a less valuable piece. Compare pin.
verb
  1. To impale on a skewer.
  2. (chess) To attack a piece which has a less valuable piece behind it.
skillet Tweet Definition of skillet Like Definition of skillet on Facebook
noun
  1. A pan for frying, generally large and heavy.
Heat some oil in a cast-iron and add the onions.
  1. A dish or meal cooked in such a pan.
This is an easy with potatoes and bacon.
  1. (context, US, as a modifier) Cooked in a skillet.
Can you make up a quick hash?
slaw Tweet Definition of slaw Like Definition of slaw on Facebook
noun
  1. (US, Canada) coleslaw
slow cooker Tweet Definition of slow cooker Like Definition of slow cooker on Facebook
nouna (plural: slow cookers)
  1. A kitchen appliance consisting of a clay pot and its housing with self-contained electrical heating, characterized by a loose-fitting lid, relatively low temperatures, and long cooking times, and used especially in the preparation of stews.
slumgullion Tweet Definition of slumgullion Like Definition of slumgullion on Facebook
noun
  1. A stew of meat and vegetables.
  2. A beverage made watery, such as weak coffee or tea.
  3. A reddish muddy deposit in mining sluices.
  4. A sperm whaleman's term, roughly equivalent to the right whaleman's "gurry" which, according to Herman Melville, "designates the dark, glutinous substance which is scraped off the back of the Greenland or Right Whale, and much of which covers the decks of those inferior souls who hunt that ignoble Leviathan."(Melville 323) Derivation for this term likely originates with the word "slobgollion" which is, according to Melville's Moby Dick, "an appelation original with the whaleman, and even so is the nature of the substance. It is an ineffably oozy, stringy affair, most frequently found in the tubs of sperm, after a prolonged squeezing, and subsequent decanting. I hold it to be the wondrously thin, ruptured Membranes of the case, coalescing." (Melville 323)
slump Tweet Definition of slump Like Definition of slump on Facebook
noun
  1. A heavy or helpless collapse; a slouching or drooping posture; a period of poor activity or performance, especially an extended period.
verb (slumps, slumping, slumped)
  1. (intransitive) To collapse heavily or helplessly.
  2. (intransitive) To slouch or droop.
  3. (intransitive) To decline or fall off in activity or performance.
smoke Tweet Definition of smoke Like Definition of smoke on Facebook
noun
  1. (uncountable) Very fine particles and vapor/vapour given off by burning material.
  2. (Military) A particulate of solid or liquid particles dispersed into the air on the battlefield to degrade enemy ground and aerial observation. Smoke has many uses--screening smoke, signaling smoke, smoke curtain, smoke haze, and smoke deception. Thus it is an artificial aerosol.
  3. An instance of smoking a cigarette, cigar, etc.
  • I'm going out for a .
    1. (slang) (countable) A cigarette.
    2. A light grey colour/color tinted with blue.
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    1. (slang) The Smoke: London
verb (smok, ing)
  1. (intransitive) To deliberately inhale smoke, especially from cigarettes.
  • Do you ?
    1. (transitive) To deliberately inhale the smoke from for example a cigarette, cigar, or pipe.
He's smoking his pipe.
  1. (transitive) To preserve by treating with smoke.
We can buy some smoked salmon for the occasion.
  1. (intransitive) To give off smoke.
adjective
  1. Of the colour known as smoke.
Snowball Tweet Definition of Snowball Like Definition of Snowball on Facebook
noun &reg;
  1. a brand of teacake made by Tunnocks
  2. (US, slang) a mix of cocaine and heroin.
soda biscuit Tweet Definition of soda biscuit Like Definition of soda biscuit on Facebook
noun
  1. a biscuit (cookie), having a breadlike consistency, leavened with soda and buttermilk
soda bread Tweet Definition of soda bread Like Definition of soda bread on Facebook
noun
  1. Bread made using sour milk and baking soda as a rising agent, rather than yeast; common in Ireland.
soda cracker Tweet Definition of soda cracker Like Definition of soda cracker on Facebook
noun
  1. A saltine; a soda biscuit.
sorbet Tweet Definition of sorbet Like Definition of sorbet on Facebook
noun
  1. Frozen fruit juice, sometimes mixed with egg whites, used as dessert or between courses of a meal.
After dinner we had an orange that was very refreshing.
soup Tweet Definition of soup Like Definition of soup on Facebook
noun (uncountable and countable; plural: soups)
  1. A dish made from various foods which are mixed together in a pot usually with broth and usually cooked
sour cream Tweet Definition of sour cream Like Definition of sour cream on Facebook
noun
  1. cream which has been treated with a benign bacteria to turn it slightly sour.
souse Tweet Definition of souse Like Definition of souse on Facebook
noun
  1. A corrupt form of Sou.
  2. A pickle made with salt.
  3. Something kept or steeped in pickle; esp., the pickled ears, feet, etc., of swine.
  4. The ear; especially, a hog's ear.
verb (sous, ing)
  1. to immerse in liquid; to steep or drench
souvlaki Tweet Definition of souvlaki Like Definition of souvlaki on Facebook
noun
  1. any of several Greek dishes such as kalamaki, giros, kebab and shawarma
soy Tweet Definition of soy Like Definition of soy on Facebook
noun
  1. A Chinese and Japanese liquid sauce for fish, made by subjecting boiled beans to long fermentation and then long digestion in salt and water. US usage prefers the term soy sauce.
I like a little with my rice.
  1. soybean, Soybeans. Often used attributively.
These candles are made from .