Curry Meaning
/ˈkʌ.ɹi/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounOne of a family of dishes originating from Indian cuisine, flavored by a spiced sauce.
nounA spiced sauce or relish, especially one flavored with curry powder.
Sentence Examples
Tom likes hot curry.
The curry at this restaurant is good.
Both of us are very fond of curry and steak.
CEFR Practice Quiz
He prepared a spicy chicken ____ with rice for dinner.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Tom likes hot ____.
Word Origin & History
1747 (as currey, first published recipe for the dish in English), from Tamil கறி (kaṟi), influenced by existing Middle English cury (“cooking”), from Middle French cuyre (“to cook”) (whence also cuisine), from Vulgar Latin cocere, from Latin coquere. Earlier cury found in 1390 cookbook Forme of Cury (Forms of Cooking) by court chefs of Richard II of England.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Your short horse is soon curried."
— 1610–1614, John Fletcher, “The Tragedie of Valentinian”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, Act II, scene i:
"One day I was out in the barn and he drifted in. I was currying the horse and he set down on the wheelbarrow and begun to ask questions."
— 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter XI, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
"I have seen him curry a fellow's carcase handsomely."
— c. 1619–1621, John Fletcher, “The Island Princesse”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, Act IV, scene ii:
"[…]By setting brother against brother / To claw and curry one another."
— 1662 (indicated as 1663), [Samuel Butler], “[The First Part of Hudibras]. Canto I.”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678, →OCLC; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1905, →OCLC:
"A middle-aged woman waves and calls to her, as if she, like the hungry reporters, were currying the girl's favor: Florence Aadland (Sarandon, in a wily, multilayered performance), Beverly's mother, wears an expression of maternal concern, though her self-serving motives become increasingly clear."
— 2014 August 27, Stephanie Zacharek, “The Last of Robin Hood Wrestles with a Star's Underage Love”, in The Village Voice, archived from the original on 03 Sep 2014:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
He prepared a spicy chicken ____ with rice for dinner.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Tom likes hot ____.