Word
shortening
Phoneticsshort·en·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈʃɔɹtənɪŋ/
UK/ʃˈɔːtənɪŋ/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a type of solid fat, like butter or lard, used in baking. It makes food like cookies or pie crusts very soft and crumbly.
n. any fat that remains solid at room temperature and is used to give pastry a crisp or crumbly texture. It functions by preventing the formation of long gluten strands in dough.
Examples
“The recipe calls for half a cup of vegetable shortening.”
“Using shortening instead of butter results in a flakier pie crust that holds its shape better in the oven.”
“While traditional recipes often specify lard, modern bakers frequently substitute vegetable-based shortening to achieve a similar melt-in-the-mouth consistency without using animal products.”
Examples
simple
“The recipe calls for half a cup of vegetable shortening.”
contextual
“Using shortening instead of butter results in a flakier pie crust that holds its shape better in the oven.”
complex
“While traditional recipes often specify lard, modern bakers frequently substitute vegetable-based shortening to achieve a similar melt-in-the-mouth consistency without using animal products.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the substance in general; countable when referring to specific commercial varieties.
Real-World Examples
“Many challenges plants face do not occur only once; they recur on a predictable, roughly annual cycle, such as winter cold preceding spring or shortening daylight before autumn.” “Truncation, or shortening, is a way to expand your search and retrieve results that begin with the same string of letters.” Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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