noun
chef
shehf
noun
1
A trained, professional cook, especially one who leads a kitchen.
"The chef came out to greet the diners after the meal."
"She trained as a chef in Paris before opening her own restaurant."
How to Use Chef
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA professional cook, particularly one in charge of a kitchen.
Common mistake
Don't mix up "chef" (a cook) with "chief" (a leader) — they come from the same French root but are used very differently in English.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
head chef
executive chef
celebrity chef
Word Forms
cheffed past tense, chefs plural, chefs singular
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The _____ came out to greet the diners after the meal.
Etymology
Borrowed from French chef ("head, leader"), from Old French chief; the same root gives English "chief" and "captain".