adj
Uncommon
culinary
KUH-lihn-ree
Culinary (adj) means relating to cooking or the kitchen. Example: “She trained at a top culinary school.”
adj
1
Relating to cooking or the kitchen.
"She trained at a top culinary school."
"His culinary skills impressed everyone at the dinner party."
"Sizzling kebabs, delicious kheer and the ever popular haleem -it's a clear sign that Ramadan sure brings with it a culinary awakening. At the same time, Ramadan is all about discipline and faith."
— Nandita Ravi, Fast and feast responsibly this Ramadan! (2016)
"The town holds a culinary festival with cooking demonstrations every autumn."
"Her culinary skills were excellent."
How to use culinary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to cooking and food preparation.
Common pairings
culinary school
culinary arts
culinary skills
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more culinary
- Superlative
- most culinary
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She trained at a top _____ school.
Etymology
Borrowed from French culinaire, from Latin culinarius, from culina ("kitchen").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for culinary
See all rhymes for culinary →Frequently asked questions
What does “culinary” mean?
The word “culinary” means relating to cooking or the kitchen. In plain terms, relating to cooking and food preparation.
How do you pronounce “culinary”?
“Culinary” is pronounced KUH-lihn-ree (/ˈkʌlɪˌnɛɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “culinary” in a sentence?
Here is “culinary” used in a sentence: “She trained at a top culinary school.”
What part of speech is “culinary”?
“Culinary” is an adjective.
Where does the word “culinary” come from?
The word “culinary” comes from Latin. Borrowed from French culinaire, from Latin culinarius, from culina ("kitchen").
Is “culinary” a common word?
“Culinary” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between culinary and cooking?
Culinary is an adjective describing anything relating to cooking or the kitchen, while cooking can be a noun or verb referring to the actual activity of preparing food. You would say "culinary skills" or "culinary school," but not typically use culinary on its own as a noun.
Is culinary a formal word?
Culinary has a slightly formal or professional register, appearing often in contexts like restaurant reviews, cookbooks, and culinary school curricula. In everyday conversation, people are more likely to simply say "cooking" or "kitchen" instead.
What are common phrases that use culinary?
Common collocations include culinary arts, culinary school, culinary skills, and culinary traditions, all of which relate to cooking as a discipline or craft rather than a single meal. These phrases usually signal a professional or educational context around food preparation.
