shirr
/ʃə:/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To bake (eggs) in their shells until they are set: The primary culinary meaning of "shirr" is to cook eggs by baking them in a shallow dish, typically with butter or cream, until the whites are set but the yolks may remain soft.
- To gather (fabric) with parallel rows of stitches: In sewing and fabric work, "shirr" means to draw fabric together into decorative gathers or fullness using parallel rows of elasticized stitching or threads.
Examples of Usage
Verb (Culinary):
- For a simple brunch, you can shirr the eggs with a little cream and herbs.
- The recipe instructs you to shirr the eggs in a ramekin for about 12 minutes.
Verb (Sewing):
- She learned to shirr the fabric to create a beautiful, stretchy bodice for the dress.
- The skirt's waist is shirred, allowing for a comfortable, flexible fit.
Advanced Usage
- "Shirring" as a noun/gerund: The process or result of shirring.
- The shirring on the sleeves adds a lovely texture to the blouse.
- Shirring is a popular technique for making elasticated cuffs.
Variants and Related Words
Shirred (adj): Describes something that has been gathered or cooked in this way.
- A shirred egg dish.
- A dress with a shirred back.
Shirring (n): The technique or the gathered effect itself.
- The shirring provides both decoration and elasticity.
Synonyms
- For cooking: Bake (eggs), coddle (though coddling typically involves cooking in water, not baking).
- For sewing: Gather, smock, elasticate.
Notes on Meaning
The word "shirr" has two distinct, specialized meanings. The culinary use is less common in everyday language but specific to a certain egg preparation method. The sewing/fabric meaning is more widely recognized in fashion and textile contexts. They are not interchangeable; the intended meaning is always clear from the context (food or fabric).
Verb
- bake (eggs) in their shells until they are set
- shirr the eggs