noun

anchovy

AN-chuh-vee

noun

A small, strong-tasting saltwater fish, often preserved in salt or oil and used to flavor other dishes.

"She added a couple of anchovy fillets to the pasta sauce for depth."

"Some people love anchovies on pizza; others can't stand them."

How to Use Anchovy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA tiny, salty fish often sold in tins, used to add a strong savory flavor to food.

Common pairings

anchovy paste anchovy fillet tin of anchovies

anchovies plural

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She added a couple of _____ fillets to the pasta sauce for depth.

Via Spanish anchoa and Ligurian anciôa; the ultimate root is uncertain, possibly Basque for "dried fish."

grovy groovy