succulence

SUK-yuh-lunss /ˈsʌk.jə.ləns/
nounC1SATGRE
CulinaryLiterary

The quality of being juicy, moist, and tasty.

Implies a combination of moisture and richness, often used for perfectly cooked meat or ripe fruit.

The story behind the word. From the Latin 'succulentus', meaning 'full of juice'. It shares a root with 'suck', describing the action of drawing out moisture.

Word relationships

  • juiciness: Juiciness is the plain term; succulence sounds more sophisticated and appetizing.
  • dryness: The lack of moisture or juice.

Word family

  • succulent (adjective): Tender, juicy, and tasty.

Collocations

  • natural succulence
  • retain succulence
  • succulence and flavor
  • incredible succulence

Example sentences

  • "The prime rib was cooked to perfection, retaining a remarkable succulence in every bite." Reviewing a steakhouse.
  • "The succulence of the sun-ripened peach was so great that the juice ran down his chin." Describing a peach.

Memory hook

Succulence is so good you want to 'suck' the juice out. Succulence: The 'juice' factor.

When not to use

Don't use it for liquids; it describes a solid food that contains a lot of juice.

Fun facts

  • In botany, a 'succulent' is a plant (like a cactus) that stores water in its thick, fleshy leaves or stems.

Related words

mouthfeel, texture

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