Meaning & use
dente
Last updated
(of pasta or vegetables) cooked until firm but not soft when bitten
See it in a sentence
Cook the spaghetti until it is al dente.
The vegetables were served al dente, with a nice crunch.
A note on using this word
This word is almost always used in the phrase al dente, which comes from Italian. It describes pasta or vegetables that are cooked but still firm when you bite them. Do not use it on its own to mean 'tooth' in English.
Words with a similar meaning
firm to the bite
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
overcookedsoft
Make it your own
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