noun
tempura
TEHM-puu-ruh
Tempura (noun) means a Japanese dish of vegetables, seafood, or other ingredients coated in a light batter and deep-fried. Example: “We ordered shrimp tempura and a bowl of rice.”
noun
1
A Japanese dish of vegetables, seafood, or other ingredients coated in a light batter and deep-fried.
"We ordered shrimp tempura and a bowl of rice."
"The Chicken Big Mac is similar to its beefy sibling; however, it replaces the two burgers with two tempura chicken patties."
— Jordan Valinsky, McDonald’s is finally selling the Chicken Big Mac in the US (2024)
How to use tempura
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishJapanese-style battered and deep-fried food, known for its light, crispy coating.
Common pairings
shrimp tempura
tempura batter
vegetable tempura
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Word forms
- Plural
- tempuras
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We ordered shrimp _____ and a bowl of rice.
Etymology
Borrowed from Japanese tenpura, itself from Portuguese — most likely from tempero/temperar ("to season"), brought to Japan by Portuguese missionaries who fried fish and vegetables during Catholic fasting periods known as Ember days.
Rhymes for tempura
See all rhymes for tempura →Frequently asked questions
What does “tempura” mean?
The word “tempura” means a Japanese dish of vegetables, seafood, or other ingredients coated in a light batter and deep-fried. In plain terms, japanese-style battered and deep-fried food, known for its light, crispy coating.
How do you pronounce “tempura”?
“Tempura” is pronounced TEHM-puu-ruh (/tɛmˈpu.ɹə/ in IPA).
How do you use “tempura” in a sentence?
Here is “tempura” used in a sentence: “We ordered shrimp tempura and a bowl of rice.”
What part of speech is “tempura”?
“Tempura” is a noun.
Where does the word “tempura” come from?
The word “tempura” comes from Portuguese.
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