# aubergine

/ˈɔbɝˌdʒin/ (US) · /ˈəʊbəʒˌiːn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/aubergine
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. the vegetable

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a large vegetable with shiny, dark purple skin that is soft and white inside when you cut it.

For teachers: the edible, ovoid fruit of the plant Solanum melongena, typically featuring a glossy dark purple skin.

- She sliced the aubergine into thin rounds before frying them in olive oil.
- The recipe calls for the aubergine to be salted and drained to remove any residual bitterness before it is layered into the moussaka.

Usage: Commonly used as an uncountable noun when referring to the food in general, but countable when referring to the individual fruit.

### 2. the colour

noun · CEFR C1 · British English

a very dark, rich purple colour like the skin of the vegetable.

For teachers: a deep, dark purple colour resembling the skin of a ripe aubergine fruit.

- The walls of the dining room were painted a deep aubergine.
- The designer selected an aubergine velvet for the upholstery to provide a sophisticated contrast against the pale oak flooring.

### 3. colour description

adjective · CEFR C1 · British English · Formal

having a dark purple colour.

For teachers: of a dark, brownish-purple colour.

- He wore an aubergine tie that matched his dark suit perfectly.
- The evening sky turned a bruised aubergine shade just before the storm broke over the valley.

## Examples

- I am cooking aubergine for dinner tonight.
- The recipe calls for sliced aubergine, which should be salted first to remove any bitterness before roasting.
- The chef prepared a classic ratatouille, ensuring the aubergine was sautéed until tender enough to melt into the tomato-based sauce.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.