Meaning & use
tarragon
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
A plant with narrow green leaves that have a strong, slightly sweet flavor, used in cooking.
Grammar: Used as an uncountable noun for the leaves or the flavor; it rarely takes a plural.
Patterns
- a sprig of tarragon
- fresh/dried tarragon
- flavored with tarragon
She added fresh tarragon to the chicken soup.
This sauce needs a little more tarragon.
Tarragon grows well in a sunny garden.
noununcountable
The dried or fresh leaves of this plant used as a seasoning.
Grammar: Same as the plant, but refers specifically to the culinary ingredient.
Patterns
- a pinch of tarragon
- tarragon vinegar
- tarragon chicken
The recipe calls for a teaspoon of chopped tarragon.
I bought tarragon at the market for the fish.
Tarragon pairs well with eggs and seafood.
Common combinations
- fresh tarragon
- Fresh tarragon has a brighter flavor than dried.
- dried tarragon
- If you use dried tarragon, use half the amount.
- tarragon vinegar
- Tarragon vinegar makes a simple salad dressing.
- a sprig of tarragon
- Garnish the plate with a sprig of tarragon.
Synonyms and how they differ
- herb
- A general word for any plant used for flavor; tarragon is a specific type of herb.
Commonly confused: tarragon or tarrragon?
tarragon vs tarrragon
A common misspelling with an extra 'r'; the correct spelling has one 'r' after the 'a'.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'tarragon' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Tarragon is an uncountable herb, so 'a sprig of tarragon' is correct. 'A tarragon' is wrong because it is not countable in this sense; it is not a meat; and it is not a verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “tarragon”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.