SAVOURY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does savoury mean? 

• SAVOURY (noun)
  The noun SAVOURY has 2 senses:

1. either of two aromatic herbs of the mint family

2. an aromatic or spicy dish served at the end of dinner or as an hors d'oeuvre

  Familiarity information: SAVOURY used as a noun is rare.

• SAVOURY (adjective)
  The adjective SAVOURY has 3 senses:

1. morally wholesome or acceptable

2. having an agreeably pungent taste

3. pleasing to the sense of taste

  Familiarity information: SAVOURY used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SAVOURY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Either of two aromatic herbs of the mint family

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Synonyms:

savory; savoury

Hypernyms ("savoury" is a kind of...):

herb (aromatic potherb used in cookery for its savory qualities)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "savoury"):

summer savory; summer savoury (herb with delicately flavored leaves with many uses)

winter savory; winter savoury (resinous leaves used in stews and stuffings and meat loaf)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An aromatic or spicy dish served at the end of dinner or as an hors d'oeuvre

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Synonyms:

savory; savoury

Hypernyms ("savoury" is a kind of...):

dainty; delicacy; goody; kickshaw; treat (something considered choice to eat)

Derivation:

savoury (pleasing to the sense of taste)

savoury (having an agreeably pungent taste)

• SAVOURY (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Morally wholesome or acceptable

Synonyms:

savory; savoury

Context example:

a past that was scarcely savory

Sense 2

Meaning:

Having an agreeably pungent taste

Synonyms:

piquant; savory; savoury; zesty

Similar:

tasty (pleasing to the sense of taste)

Derivation:

savour (the taste experience when a savoury condiment is taken into the mouth)

savoury (an aromatic or spicy dish served at the end of dinner or as an hors d'oeuvre)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Pleasing to the sense of taste

Synonyms:

mouth-watering; savory; savoury

Similar:

appetising; appetizing (appealing to or stimulating the appetite especially in appearance or aroma)

Derivation:

savour (the taste experience when a savoury condiment is taken into the mouth)

savoury (an aromatic or spicy dish served at the end of dinner or as an hors d'oeuvre)

 Context examples 

The fellow is a genius in his way, and would have made his mark in some more savoury trade.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

When night came again I found, with pleasure, that the fire gave light as well as heat and that the discovery of this element was useful to me in my food, for I found some of the offals that the travellers had left had been roasted, and tasted much more savoury than the berries I gathered from the trees.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)