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noun

roux

roo

Roux (noun) means a cooked mixture of fat and flour used as a base to thicken sauces, soups, and stews. Example: “Start the gumbo by making a dark roux.”

noun
1
A cooked mixture of fat and flour used as a base to thicken sauces, soups, and stews.
"Start the gumbo by making a dark roux."
"A basic white sauce begins with a butter-and-flour roux."

How to use roux

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA cooking base of fat and flour, key to many classic sauces like béchamel and gravy.

Common pairings
make a roux dark roux roux-based sauce

Word forms

roux plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Start the gumbo by making a dark _____.

Etymology

Borrowed from French roux, meaning "reddish-brown," describing the color the mixture takes on when cooked longer.

Origin: French

Rhymes for roux

See all rhymes for roux →

Frequently asked questions

What does “roux” mean?

The word “roux” means a cooked mixture of fat and flour used as a base to thicken sauces, soups, and stews. In plain terms, a cooking base of fat and flour, key to many classic sauces like béchamel and gravy.

How do you pronounce “roux”?

“Roux” is pronounced roo (/ɹuː/ in IPA).

How do you use “roux” in a sentence?

Here is “roux” used in a sentence: “Start the gumbo by making a dark roux.”

What part of speech is “roux”?

“Roux” is a noun.

Where does the word “roux” come from?

The word “roux” comes from French. Borrowed from French roux, meaning "reddish-brown," describing the color the mixture takes on when cooked longer.

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