truffles

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   Edible fungi that grow underground near tree roots and are highly valued in cooking for their strong smell.

   Grammar: Countable: use a/a with one and a plural -s with more than one.

   Patterns

   • a truffle
   • truffles grow under something
   • shave truffles over something

   Black truffles grow underground near the roots of oak trees.

   The chef shaved fresh truffles over the pasta.

   Truffles are expensive because they are hard to find.

2. 2nouncountable

   Small round candies made of soft chocolate, often covered in cocoa powder.

   Grammar: Countable and usually plural when talking about a box or gift of them.

   Patterns

   • a box of truffles
   • chocolate truffles

   She gave him a box of chocolate truffles for Valentine's Day.

   These truffles have a soft, creamy center.

Word forms

Common combinations

black truffles

Black truffles are prized in French cooking.

white truffles

White truffles from Italy cost more than most ingredients.

truffle oil

He drizzled truffle oil over the fries.

a box of truffles

A box of truffles makes a simple gift.

hunt for truffles

In winter they hunt for truffles with trained dogs.

Synonyms and how they differ

mushroom

A mushroom is the common edible fungus that grows above ground; truffles grow underground and are much rarer.

Word family

truffle noun

The singular form for one of these fungi or candies.

truffled adjective

Cooked or flavored with truffles, as in truffled eggs.

Commonly confused: truffles or truffle?

Practice

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