rancid
/ˈræn.sɪd/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Used to describe fats, oils, or food that has gone bad and tastes or smells unpleasant. It can also mean something is rotten or stale.
- This butter smells rancid.
- The oil has gone rancid.
- We had to throw away the rancid nuts.
Adinary Nuance
Rancid is stronger and more specific than "bad" or "old". It usually describes fats, oils, butter, nuts, or other food that smells unpleasant because it has spoiled. People do not usually use it for all rotten food; they more often say "rotten" or "spoiled" for that.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- Ôi thiu
- Spanish
- Rancio
- Chinese
- 变质的
- Japanese
- 酸化した
- Korean
- 산패한
Etymology
Rancid comes from Latin rancidus, from rancere, meaning 'to be rotten' or 'to smell bad'. It entered English in the 1600s.
Common phrases
rancid smellrancid buttergone rancid
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is rancid used for only food?
- Mostly yes. It usually describes fats, oils, butter, nuts, and similar food.
- What is the difference between rancid and rotten?
- Rancid is more specific. Rotten is broader and can describe many kinds of spoiled food.
- Can I say rancid milk?
- People usually say spoiled milk or sour milk, not rancid milk.