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terrine

/təˈriːn/
IELTSAcademic
noun

A terrine is a deep dish, often made of ceramic, used for cooking and serving food. It is also the food cooked or served in it, usually a smooth meat or vegetable mixture.

  • She served the pâté in a small terrine.
  • The chef made a vegetable terrine for dinner.

Adinary Nuance

Terrine is not the same as pâté, though they are closely related. A pâté is the spread or mixture itself, while a terrine can mean the container or the layered dish served in it. In cooking writing, terrine sounds more specific and a little more formal than a general word like dish.

In other languages

Vietnamese
khuôn đựng món ăn
Spanish
terrina
Chinese
陶罐菜
Japanese
テリーヌ
Korean
테린

Etymology

Terrine comes from French, where it meant a large earthenware dish. English borrowed the word in the 18th century, first for the dish and then for the food inside it.

Common phrases

meat terrinevegetable terrineterrine dish

Synonyms

Related words

Frequently asked questions

Is terrine a food or a dish?
It can mean both. It is the dish used for cooking, and also the food made in it.
What is the difference between terrine and pâté?
Pâté is usually a spread or smooth mixture. Terrine can be the container or the layered dish served in it.
Is terrine a common word in everyday English?
No, it is not very common. You will see it more in menus, cookbooks, and food writing.