# mustard

/ˈməstɝd/ (US) · /mˈʌstəd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mustard
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. food condiment

noun · CEFR B1

a thick yellow or brown sauce with a strong, spicy taste that you put on meat or in sandwiches.

For teachers: a pungent condiment made from the ground seeds of the mustard plant, often mixed with water, vinegar, or wine.

- He put a little bit of spicy mustard on his hot dog for extra flavour.
- The chef prepared a traditional vinaigrette by whisking together Dijon mustard, aged balsamic vinegar, and extra virgin olive oil.

### 2. the plant

noun · CEFR B2

a plant with yellow flowers that produces the seeds used to make mustard sauce.

For teachers: any of several plants in the family Brassicaceae, particularly those with yellow flowers and seeds used for oil or spice.

- The fields were bright yellow with wild mustard growing everywhere.
- Farmers in the region rotate their primary crops with mustard to improve soil health and suppress certain pests naturally.

### 3. the colour

noun · CEFR B1

a dark, brownish-yellow colour like the condiment.

For teachers: a dark, saturated yellow hue resembling the appearance of prepared mustard.

- She chose a mustard sofa to add a pop of colour to her grey living room.
- The interior designer recommended mustard accents to complement the mid-century modern aesthetic of the apartment.

### 4. physical power

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal · American English

extra energy or speed, especially when throwing a ball.

For teachers: physical force, speed, or intensity applied to an action, particularly in sports.

- The pitcher really put some mustard on that last throw.
- If the quarterback wants to complete that long pass, he'll need to put a bit more mustard on the ball next time.

Usage: Usually used with the verb 'put' as in 'put some mustard on it'.

### 5. very good

adjective · CEFR C2 · Slang · British English

excellent or very skilled at something.

For teachers: highly proficient, impressive, or of excellent quality.

- That new striker is absolute mustard; he's scored in every game so far.
- The local band's performance was absolute mustard, drawing a much larger crowd than the venue had anticipated.

Teaching tip: This is a very specific British slang term; learners should use it only in very casual settings in the UK.

## Examples

- I like to put spicy mustard on my hot dog.
- The chef recommended a honey mustard dressing to balance the bitterness of the salad greens.
- While yellow mustard is a staple of American casual dining, European cuisines often favour the more intense, nasal heat of Dijon or English varieties to complement rich meats.

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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.