chilli
/'tʃili/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A small, hot-tasting pod of a variety of capsicum pepper, often dried and ground to produce a pungent spice: "chilli" refers to the fruit of plants from the genus Capsicum, known for its spicy heat due to the compound capsaicin.
- A dish made with or seasoned with these peppers: "chilli" can also refer to a spicy stew, most commonly "chilli con carne".
Examples of Usage
- Noun (referring to the pepper):
- I added one chopped chilli to the curry for extra heat.
- The recipe calls for two teaspoons of dried chilli flakes.
- Noun (referring to the dish):
- We're having chilli for dinner tonight.
- This restaurant makes the best vegetarian chilli.
Advanced Usage
- "Chilli pepper": A more specific term for the fruit itself, often used to distinguish it from the dish.
- Scotch bonnet and habanero are very hot types of chilli pepper.
- "Chilli powder": A spice blend made from dried, ground chillies and other spices like cumin and garlic powder.
- Authentic chilli powder contains only dried chillies, but many commercial blends include other seasonings.
Variants and Related Words
- Chili: An alternative, common American English spelling for both the pepper and the dish.
- Chile: Another alternative spelling, often used in the Southwestern United States and in discussions of specific pepper varieties (e.g., ).
- Chilli con carne: The full name for the meat-based stew, often shortened to "chilli".
- Capsaicin (n): The active chemical component that produces the burning sensation in chillies.
Synonyms
- Hot pepper: A general term for any spicy pepper.
- Capsicum: The botanical genus name; in some countries like Australia and India, "capsicum" refers to sweet bell peppers, not hot ones.
Related Phrases
- Chilli sauce: A condiment made from chillies, vinegar, and other ingredients.
- He puts chilli sauce on almost everything he eats.
- Chilli oil: Oil infused with chilli peppers, used as a cooking ingredient or condiment.
- A drizzle of chilli oil can enhance the flavor of noodles.
Related Idioms
- To have a chilli pepper personality: (Informal) To describe someone who is fiery, passionate, or quick-tempered.
- Be careful when you disagree with her; she has a real chilli pepper personality.
Noun
- very hot and finely tapering pepper of special pungency