English Reference

Word

whisk

US/ˈhwɪsk/

UK/wˈɪsk/

Countable noun

Definition

n. a kitchen tool made of wire loops used for mixing things like eggs or cream. You use it to add air to your food to make it light and fluffy.

n. a culinary utensil consisting of a series of wire loops joined at a handle, used for beating or whipping ingredients. Often used to incorporate air into a mixture or to ensure a smooth texture in sauces.

Examples

“Use a metal whisk to beat the egg whites until they are stiff.”

“The chef grabbed a large whisk to combine the flour and milk into a smooth batter for the pancakes.”

“While a fork might suffice for simple tasks, a balloon whisk is essential for achieving the volume required for a proper meringue or a delicate soufflé.”

Examples

simple

“Use a metal whisk to beat the egg whites until they are stiff.”

contextual

“The chef grabbed a large whisk to combine the flour and milk into a smooth batter for the pancakes.”

complex

“While a fork might suffice for simple tasks, a balloon whisk is essential for achieving the volume required for a proper meringue or a delicate soufflé.”

Usage

Commonly used with the verb 'to use' or 'to beat with'.

Real-World Examples

“Whisk the first four dressing ingredients in a small bowl with a quarter-teaspoon of salt.”
The Guardian 20 May 2023
“Whisk slowly as you drip the oil into the egg yolk, lemon juice and Dijon mustard mixture.”
The New York Times 9 Jan 2017
“Whisk 1 cup of the mixture into the egg yolks, then return to the pan.”
Los Angeles Times 28 Nov 2001
“It’s 1963 and Baby (Jennifer Grey) is getting whisked off her feet by Patrick Swayze’s bad-boy dance instructor.”
The Guardian 20 Aug 2026

Etymology

From Middle English whisk, borrowed from Old Norse visk, from Proto-Germanic wiskaz, wiskō (“bundle of hay, wisp”), from Proto-Indo-European *weys-. Cognates Cognate with Danish visk, Dutch wis, German Wisch, Latin virga (“rod, switch”), viscus (“entrails”), Lithuanian vizgéti (“to tremble”), Czech věchet (“wisp of straw”), Sanskrit वेष्क (veṣka, “noose”). Compare also Old English wiscian (“to plait”), granwisc (“awn”). The unetymological wh- is probably expressive of the sound; compare the same development in whip and onomatopoeias such as whack and whoosh.

So called from the rapid action of sweeping the cards off the table after a trick has been won.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

NOUN

whisk(B2)

Idioms

This entry

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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Frequency
Occasional
Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Updated

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