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adj Uncommon

dum

duhm

Dum (adj) means Cooked slowly by trapping steam inside a sealed pot, as in South Asian cuisine. Example: “The restaurant is famous for its dum biryani, sealed and slow-cooked in its own steam.”

adj
1
Cooked slowly by trapping steam inside a sealed pot, as in South Asian cuisine.
"The restaurant is famous for its dum biryani, sealed and slow-cooked in its own steam."
intj
1
A nonsense syllable used when humming a tune, often repeated rhythmically.
"She hummed along, going "dum dum dum" to the melody."

How to use dum

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA steam-sealed cooking method, or a hummed nonsense sound.

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Test yourself on “dum” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The restaurant is famous for its _____ biryani, sealed and slow-cooked in its own steam.

Etymology

The cooking sense is from Hindi दम (dam), meaning "breath" or "steam."

Origin: Hindi

Frequently asked questions

What does “dum” mean?

The word “dum” means cooked slowly by trapping steam inside a sealed pot, as in South Asian cuisine. In plain terms, a steam-sealed cooking method, or a hummed nonsense sound.

How do you pronounce “dum”?

“Dum” is pronounced duhm (/dʌm/ in IPA).

How do you use “dum” in a sentence?

Here is “dum” used in a sentence: “The restaurant is famous for its dum biryani, sealed and slow-cooked in its own steam.”

What part of speech is “dum”?

Depending on how it is used, “dum” can be an adjective and an intj.

Where does the word “dum” come from?

The word “dum” comes from Hindi. The cooking sense is from Hindi दम (dam), meaning "breath" or "steam.".

Is “dum” a common word?

“Dum” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “dum” have?

“Dum” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: cooked slowly by trapping steam inside a sealed pot, as in South Asian cuisine.

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