noun
sambar
Sambar (noun) means a large deer native to South and Southeast Asia. Example: “A sambar stag with heavy antlers stepped out of the forest at dusk.”
noun
1
A large deer native to South and Southeast Asia.
"A sambar stag with heavy antlers stepped out of the forest at dusk."
2
A South Indian dish of vegetables and lentils simmered in a spicy, tangy tamarind broth.
"She poured hot sambar over the rice and mixed it with her fingers."
How to use sambar
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a large Asian deer, or a spicy South Indian lentil-and-vegetable stew — two unrelated meanings that just happen to share a name.
Common mistake
Don't assume the two senses (the deer and the dish) are connected — they aren't.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like sambar.
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
- sambars
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ stag with heavy antlers stepped out of the forest at dusk.
Etymology
From Hindi sāmbhar, ultimately from a Sanskrit word for a kind of deer — the food dish is an unrelated later use of the same spelling.
Synonyms
View more →
sambur
Frequently asked questions
What does “sambar” mean?
The word “sambar” means a large deer native to South and Southeast Asia. In plain terms, either a large Asian deer, or a spicy South Indian lentil-and-vegetable stew — two unrelated meanings that just happen to share a name.
How do you use “sambar” in a sentence?
Here is “sambar” used in a sentence: “A sambar stag with heavy antlers stepped out of the forest at dusk.”
What part of speech is “sambar”?
“Sambar” is a noun.
Where does the word “sambar” come from?
The word “sambar” comes from Sanskrit. From Hindi sāmbhar, ultimately from a Sanskrit word for a kind of deer — the food dish is an unrelated later use of the same spelling.
How many meanings does “sambar” have?
“Sambar” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large deer native to South and Southeast Asia.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include sambar:
