curry
4 synonyms and 0 antonyms for curry, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A dish, originally from South Asian cooking, made with a spiced sauce.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use curry
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
The food sense comes from Tamil kaṟi via French, first appearing in English cookbooks in the 1300s-1700s. The "curry favor" sense comes from an unrelated Middle English word meaning to groom or dress down a horse.
Full origin of curry →Frequently asked questions
What does “curry” mean?
The word “curry” means a dish, originally from South Asian cooking, made with a spiced sauce. In plain terms, either a spiced dish, or (as a verb, in "curry favor") trying to get on someone's good side.
How do you pronounce “curry”?
“Curry” is pronounced KUH-ree (/ˈkʌ.ɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “curry” in a sentence?
Here is “curry” used in a sentence: “We ordered a chicken curry and some rice.”
What part of speech is “curry”?
Depending on how it is used, “curry” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “curry” come from?
The word “curry” dates back to around 1300 and comes from French. The food sense comes from Tamil kaṟi via French, first appearing in English cookbooks in the 1300s-1700s. The "curry favor" sense comes from an unrelated Middle English word meaning to groom or dress down a horse.
Is “curry” a common word?
“Curry” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “curry” have?
“Curry” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a dish, originally from South Asian cooking, made with a spiced sauce.
Is the 'curry' in 'curry favour' the same as the food?
No. The 'curry' in 'curry favour' is a verb meaning to try to win someone's favour through flattery, unrelated to the spiced dish. The two are separate words that happen to be spelled the same.
What is the difference between a 'curry' and a 'stew'?
A curry is a dish, originally from South Asian cooking, made with a spiced sauce, while a stew is a more general dish of ingredients slowly cooked in liquid. Curries are defined by their blend of spices, whereas stews are defined by the slow-cooking method.