culinary
KUL-ih-ner-ee
/ˈkʌl.ɪ.ner.i/
Of or for cooking or the kitchen.
A technical adjective used to describe skills, tools, or education related to professional cooking.
The story behind the word. The Latin 'culina' was the room where the fire was kept for cooking. It is related to 'coquere' (to cook). While 'kitchen' is the Germanic descendant, 'culinary' is the Latinate version, which is why it sounds more formal and academic.
Word relationships
- dietary: Relates to the food consumed for health, whereas culinary relates to the preparation of food.
Commonly confused with
- cuisine: Cuisine is a noun (the style); culinary is an adjective (related to the kitchen).
Word family
- culinarily (adverb): In a manner relating to cooking.
Collocations
- culinary arts
- culinary skills
- culinary school
- culinary delight
Example sentences
- "She decided to enroll in a culinary institute to master the art of pastry making." Discussing professional training.
- "His culinary skills were honed in some of the most demanding kitchens in London." Describing a chef's skills.
Memory hook
CULINARY sounds like 'Cool In A' kitchen. To be a chef, you have to be cool in a kitchen. Culina = Kitchen.
When not to use
Don't use it to describe the taste of food (use 'delicious' or 'delectable'); use it for the process or the industry.
Fun facts
- In ancient Rome, the culina was often a small, dark, and smoky room at the back of the house, unlike the social hubs kitchens are today.
Explore more words
degustation, organoleptic, sensory, epicurean, olfactory, feast
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