Word
brownie
Phoneticsbrown·ie, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbɹaʊni/
UK/bɹˈaʊni/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a small, square chocolate cake that is soft and thick. It often has nuts inside and is very sweet.
n. a small, dense, chocolate-based baked confection, typically square or rectangular in shape. Often contains nuts or chocolate chips and has a texture between a cake and a soft cookie.
Examples
“I baked a batch of brownies for the party.”
“The bakery is famous for its fudge brownies, which are served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.”
“While traditional recipes call for cocoa powder, many modern variations use melted dark chocolate to achieve a richer, more decadent brownie texture.”
Examples
simple
“I baked a batch of brownies for the party.”
contextual
“The bakery is famous for its fudge brownies, which are served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.”
complex
“While traditional recipes call for cocoa powder, many modern variations use melted dark chocolate to achieve a richer, more decadent brownie texture.”
Usage
Countable when referring to the individual squares; uncountable when referring to the substance in general.
Etymology
From brownie (“a helpful elf”). Specifically, inspired by the story "The Brownies" by Juliana Horatia Ewing (published in 1870, The Brownies and Other Tales), in which two children, Tommy and Betty, learn that children can be helpful brownies or lazy boggarts. But compare with Dutch kabouter (“a very young female member of the scout movement”) (literally, a "gnome").
From Brown + -ie.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. brownie point
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- A2 · Elementary
- Updated
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