# dill

/ˈdɪɫ/ (US) · /dˈɪl/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. the herb

noun · CEFR B2

a green herb with thin, feathery leaves used to add flavour to food, especially fish and potatoes.

For teachers: the aromatic herb Anethum graveolens, characterized by feathery leaves and pungent seeds used in culinary applications.

- She chopped some fresh dill to sprinkle over the grilled salmon.
- The recipe calls for a generous handful of fresh dill, which provides a bright, citrusy contrast to the richness of the cream sauce.

### 2. a pickle

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a cucumber that has been preserved in vinegar and water with dill for flavour.

For teachers: a cucumber pickled in a brine containing dill seeds or leaves.

- He ordered a large dill on the side with his pastrami sandwich.
- The deli is famous for its crunchy dills, which are fermented in oak barrels using a traditional family recipe.

### 3. a fool

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Dialect · British English

a person who is acting silly or stupid.

For teachers: a person perceived as foolish or incompetent.

- Don't be such a dill; you know the keys are in your pocket.
- He felt like a complete dill after realizing he had been arguing against his own proposal for the last ten minutes.

Usage: Commonly used in Australian and New Zealand English.

Teaching tip: This sense is specific to Australian and New Zealand English; using it elsewhere might cause confusion.

### 4. to flavour with dill

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to add dill to a dish while cooking it.

For teachers: to season, garnish, or preserve food using dill.

- The chef decided to dill the potatoes to give them a fresh taste.
- While not a standard culinary verb, some regional texts describe the process to dill the brine before adding the vegetables.

## Examples

- I like to put fresh dill on my grilled salmon.
- The recipe calls for a handful of chopped dill to give the potato salad a fresh, herbal flavor.
- While the feathery fronds of dill are prized for their delicate aroma, the seeds offer a more pungent, concentrated flavor profile often utilized in traditional pickling brines.

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