aubergine
/'oubədʤi:n/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A plant: A hairy upright herb (Solanum melongena) native to southeastern Asia but now widely cultivated.
- A vegetable: The large, glossy, edible, egg-shaped fruit of this plant, used as a vegetable. It has a shiny skin that is typically dark purple but can occasionally be white or yellow.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The recipe calls for one large aubergine, diced.
- She grows tomatoes and aubergines in her garden.
- The skin of a fresh aubergine should be smooth and shiny.
Advanced Usage
- Culinary Context: The aubergine is a staple in many cuisines, such as Mediterranean (e.g., ratatouille, moussaka) and Asian (e.g., in curries, stir-fries). It is often valued for its ability to absorb flavors from oils and spices.
- The secret to a good baba ghanoush is properly roasting the aubergine until the flesh is smoky and tender.
Variants and Related Words
- Eggplant: This is the common North American term for 'aubergine'. The words are synonyms.
- In American recipes, 'eggplant' is used instead of 'aubergine'.
- Brinjal: A term commonly used in South Asian and South African English for the same vegetable.
- The curry was made with brinjal and potatoes.
Synonyms
- Eggplant (primarily US and Canada)
- Brinjal (primarily South Asia and South Africa)
- Guinea squash (archaic/regional)
Related Phrases
- Aubergine colour: A deep, dark purple color similar to the skin of the common variety of the vegetable.
- She painted her bedroom walls in a rich aubergine colour.
Noun
- egg-shaped vegetable having a shiny skin typically dark purple but occasionally white or yellow
- hairy upright herb native to southeastern Asia but widely cultivated for its large glossy edible fruit commonly used as a vegetable