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noun

tarragon

TA-ruh-guhn

Tarragon (noun) means a herb with slender aromatic leaves, related to wormwood, used to flavour food. Example: “Fresh tarragon adds a subtle aniseed note to chicken dishes.”

noun
1
A herb with slender aromatic leaves, related to wormwood, used to flavour food.
"Fresh tarragon adds a subtle aniseed note to chicken dishes."
"She grows tarragon in a pot on the windowsill."

How to use tarragon

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA herb with a mild aniseed flavour, classic in French cooking (as in béarnaise sauce).

Common pairings
fresh tarragon tarragon vinegar chicken with tarragon

Word forms

tarragons plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Fresh _____ adds a subtle aniseed note to chicken dishes.

Etymology

Traced back through French and Medieval Latin to an Arabic word, ultimately from a Greek word for "dragonwort" — related to "dragon."

Origin: Medieval Latin

estragon dragon's wort French tarragon Russian tarragon silky wormwood wild tarragon

Rhymes for tarragon

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Frequently asked questions

What does “tarragon” mean?

The word “tarragon” means a herb with slender aromatic leaves, related to wormwood, used to flavour food. In plain terms, a herb with a mild aniseed flavour, classic in French cooking (as in béarnaise sauce).

How do you pronounce “tarragon”?

“Tarragon” is pronounced TA-ruh-guhn (/ˈtæɹəɡɑn/ in IPA).

How do you use “tarragon” in a sentence?

Here is “tarragon” used in a sentence: “Fresh tarragon adds a subtle aniseed note to chicken dishes.”

What is another word for “tarragon”?

Words with a similar meaning to “tarragon” include estragon, dragon's wort, French tarragon, Russian tarragon, silky wormwood and wild tarragon.

What part of speech is “tarragon”?

“Tarragon” is a noun.

Where does the word “tarragon” come from?

The word “tarragon” comes from Medieval Latin. Traced back through French and Medieval Latin to an Arabic word, ultimately from a Greek word for "dragonwort" — related to "dragon.".

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial