# browning

/ˈbɹaʊnɪŋ/ (US) · /bɹˈaʊnɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/browning
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. cooking process

noun · CEFR B2

the process of food turning brown when you cook it, which adds flavor.

For teachers: the process of food surfaces turning brown through the Maillard reaction or caramelization during cooking.

- The recipe says that the browning of the meat is essential for a good stew.
- Achieving a deep, even browning on the roast requires a high initial temperature to trigger the necessary chemical changes in the surface proteins.

### 2. coloring liquid

noun · CEFR B2

a dark liquid used to give a brown color to gravy or sauces.

For teachers: any substance or preparation, such as gravy browning, used to impart a brown color to food or materials.

- She added a few drops of browning to the sauce to make it look more appetizing.
- The chef preferred using a natural reduction rather than commercial browning to darken the consistency of the traditional onion gravy.

### 4. metal treatment

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a process used to protect metal, like gun barrels, and give them a brown finish.

For teachers: the process of controlled oxidation used to give metal surfaces a brown finish and provide corrosion resistance.

- The antique rifle still had its original browning on the barrel.
- The restoration expert applied a traditional browning solution to the steel components to match the historical aesthetic of the nineteenth-century firearm.

### 5. type of firearm

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a type of automatic gun or pistol named after its inventor.

For teachers: a firearm, typically a semi-automatic pistol or automatic rifle, designed by John Browning.

- The soldier was trained to use a Browning automatic rifle.
- The museum's collection includes several early models of the Browning pistol, showcasing the evolution of semi-automatic sidearms.

## Examples

- The browning on the toast makes it taste better.
- She wiped the browning off the apple slices to keep them looking fresh.
- The chef carefully monitored the browning of the onions, ensuring they developed a deep caramel color without burning.

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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.