bacon

The word “bacon” means cured, often smoked meat cut from the back or belly of a pig, typically sliced thin and fried crisp. In plain terms, salted, cured pork, usually sliced and cooked until crispy — a breakfast staple in many countries.

“Bacon” is pronounced BAY-kuhn (/ˈbeɪ.kən/ in IPA).

Here is “bacon” used in a sentence: “He fried up some bacon and eggs for breakfast.”

Words with a similar meaning to “bacon” include ham and pork.

“Bacon” is a noun.

The word “bacon” comes from Middle English. From Middle English bacoun, borrowed via Anglo-Norman from an Old Low Frankish word for cured pork, ultimately related to the same Germanic root as the English word "back.".

“Bacon” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

Both come from pork, but bacon is cured meat from the pig's back or belly, usually sliced thin and fried crisp, while ham comes from the hind leg and is often served in thicker slices. Bacon is typically a breakfast food, whereas ham is common in sandwiches and roasts.

British back bacon comes mainly from the loin and is leaner, while American streaky bacon comes from the belly and is fattier and crispier. The word "bacon" covers both, but the cut and texture differ.

Common collocations include "crispy bacon," "streaky bacon," "back bacon," "smoked bacon," and "bacon and eggs." "Bacon and eggs" is a classic cooked breakfast.