recipe
REH-sih-pee
Recipe (noun) means a set of instructions for cooking a dish, listing ingredients and the steps to combine and prepare them. Example: “Could you write down your recipe for vegetable soup so I can try it?”
noun
1
A set of instructions for cooking a dish, listing ingredients and the steps to combine and prepare them.
"Could you write down your recipe for vegetable soup so I can try it?"
"She followed her grandmother's recipe for apple pie exactly."
"The recipe called for two cups of flour and a pinch of salt."
2
Figuratively, a plan or formula likely to bring about a certain result.
"Staying up late every night is a recipe for being tired and grumpy."
"Cutting corners on safety is a recipe for disaster."
"Hard work and patience are the recipe for success."
How to use recipe
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishStep-by-step instructions for making something, most often a dish, or more loosely a formula for achieving an outcome.
Common pairings
a recipe for disaster
follow a recipe
a family recipe
a recipe calls for
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like recipe.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- recipes
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Could you write down your _____ for vegetable soup so I can try it?
Etymology
From Latin recipe, "take!" — the word doctors once wrote at the top of a prescription telling the pharmacist which ingredients to take and combine.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for recipe
See all rhymes for recipe →Frequently asked questions
What does “recipe” mean?
The word “recipe” means a set of instructions for cooking a dish, listing ingredients and the steps to combine and prepare them. In plain terms, step-by-step instructions for making something, most often a dish, or more loosely a formula for achieving an outcome.
How do you pronounce “recipe”?
“Recipe” is pronounced REH-sih-pee (/ˈɹɛsɪpi/ in IPA).
How do you use “recipe” in a sentence?
Here is “recipe” used in a sentence: “She followed her grandmother's recipe for apple pie exactly.”
What is another word for “recipe”?
Words with a similar meaning to “recipe” include receipt.
What part of speech is “recipe”?
“Recipe” is a noun.
Where does the word “recipe” come from?
The word “recipe” comes from Latin. From Latin recipe, "take!" — the word doctors once wrote at the top of a prescription telling the pharmacist which ingredients to take and combine.
Is “recipe” a common word?
“Recipe” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “recipe” have?
“Recipe” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a set of instructions for cooking a dish, listing ingredients and the steps to combine and prepare them.
What information does a "recipe" usually include?
A recipe is a set of instructions for cooking a dish, and it typically lists the ingredients and the steps to combine and prepare them. Following the ingredients and steps in order helps produce the intended result.
What is the difference between a "recipe" and a "menu"?
A recipe gives the ingredients and steps for preparing a single dish, while a menu is a list of the dishes available to order or serve. A menu tells you what is offered; a recipe tells you how to make it.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include recipe:
