Meaning & use
orgeat
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountable
A sweet, cloudy syrup flavored with almonds and a little orange flower or rose water, used mainly to flavor cocktails and other drinks.
Grammar: Used as a mass noun: add some orgeat, not an orgeat.
Patterns
- orgeat syrup
- a splash of orgeat
- sweeten something with orgeat
The bartender stirred a spoonful of orgeat into the rum and lime juice.
Homemade orgeat keeps in the fridge for about two weeks.
Without orgeat, a Mai Tai just tastes like a sharp rum punch.
Common combinations
- orgeat syrup
- She bought a bottle of orgeat syrup for the party.
- almond orgeat
- Almond orgeat gives the drink a soft, nutty sweetness.
- a dash of orgeat
- Add a dash of orgeat and shake well.
- make orgeat
- He learned to make orgeat from blanched almonds and sugar.
- orgeat cocktail
- The orgeat cocktail on the menu sold out by nine o'clock.
Synonyms and how they differ
- almond syrup
- This is the plain everyday description; orgeat implies the traditional recipe with floral water and is the word bartenders use.
- almond milk
- Almond milk is an unsweetened drink for pouring on cereal or into coffee, whereas orgeat is a thick sweet syrup used in small amounts.
- simple syrup
- Simple syrup is just sugar and water with no flavor, while orgeat carries a strong almond taste.
Word family
- orgeat syrup noun
- the full name for the product sold in bottles
- orzata noun
- the Italian name for a similar almond or barley drink
Commonly confused: orgeat or orgy?
orgeat vs orgy
Orgy sounds similar at the start but is unrelated; orgeat is only a syrup. The final t is silent in the usual British pronunciation.
Practice
Which ingredient gives orgeat its main flavor?
Choose one answer.
Orgeat is an almond syrup. Mint, ginger and coffee are used in other drinks but do not define orgeat.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “orgeat”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.