ingredient
ihn-GREE-dee-uhnt
Ingredient (noun) means one of the items that make up a mixture, especially in cooking. Example: “Flour, sugar, and eggs are the main ingredients in this cake.”
noun
1
One of the items that make up a mixture, especially in cooking.
"The ingredients of a Spanish omelette are potatoes, eggs, onion, and a little salt."
"Flour, sugar, and eggs are the main ingredients in this cake."
"Check that you have every ingredient before you start cooking."
"Fresh basil is the secret ingredient in her tomato sauce."
2
A necessary part or factor that helps produce a result.
"Trust is a key ingredient in any good partnership."
"Hard work is an essential ingredient of success in any career."
"Good communication is the missing ingredient in many struggling teams."
How to use ingredient
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA component part — literally in a recipe, or figuratively in a plan or relationship.
Common pairings
key ingredient
secret ingredient
list of ingredients
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Word forms
- Plural
- ingredients
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Flour, sugar, and eggs are the main _____ in this cake.
Etymology
From Latin ingrediens, "entering into," from ingredi, "to go into."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for ingredient
See all rhymes for ingredient →Frequently asked questions
What does “ingredient” mean?
The word “ingredient” means one of the items that make up a mixture, especially in cooking. In plain terms, a component part — literally in a recipe, or figuratively in a plan or relationship.
How do you pronounce “ingredient”?
“Ingredient” is pronounced ihn-GREE-dee-uhnt (/ɪnˈɡɹiːdi.ənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “ingredient” in a sentence?
Here is “ingredient” used in a sentence: “Flour, sugar, and eggs are the main ingredients in this cake.”
What part of speech is “ingredient”?
“Ingredient” is a noun.
Where does the word “ingredient” come from?
The word “ingredient” comes from Latin. From Latin ingrediens, "entering into," from ingredi, "to go into.".
Is “ingredient” a common word?
“Ingredient” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “ingredient” have?
“Ingredient” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: one of the items that make up a mixture, especially in cooking.
What is the difference between an ingredient and a component?
An ingredient specifically refers to one of the items making up a mixture, especially in cooking, while a component is a more general term for any part making up a larger whole, not limited to mixtures or food. Ingredient carries a strong culinary association that component does not.
How is 'ingredient' used figuratively?
Figuratively, an ingredient can mean a necessary part or factor that helps produce a result, as in 'hard work is a key ingredient of success,' extending the cooking sense to abstract outcomes.
What is the difference between an ingredient and a recipe?
An ingredient is one individual item used in a mixture, while a recipe is the full set of instructions describing which ingredients to combine and how to prepare them.
