ENGLISH
REFERENCE

culinary

adj.
US //ˈkjuɫɪˌnɛɹi// UK //kjˈʊlɪnəɹi// culi·nary
  1. 1 related to cooking (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Cooking

    related to the activity of cooking or the skills used in a kitchen.

    relating to the practice of cookery or the activity of preparing food.

    Example

    The city is famous for its culinary traditions and excellent seafood restaurants.

    Example

    The chef's culinary expertise was evident in the way he balanced complex spices with simple, fresh ingredients.

  2. 2 related to the kitchen (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Cooking

    related to the tools, equipment, or environment of a kitchen.

    pertaining specifically to the kitchen environment or the tools used therein.

    Example

    She bought a new set of culinary tools for her professional baking course.

    Example

    The museum exhibition featured various culinary implements from the eighteenth century, including heavy iron pots and primitive hand-cranked grinders.

    • kitchen related
Origin

Borrowed from French culinaire, itself a borrowing from Latin culīnārius, from culīna (“kitchen”).

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