Culinary Glossary

noun the grain of this plant, used as food for humans and livestock

• The farmer harvested a bountiful crop of corn from his fields.
• I love eating corn on the cob at summer barbecues.
• Let's go grab some corn from the local market for a cookout.
• The politician's speech was full of corn, lacking any real substance.

noun the introduction of a new element or quality into something

• The doctor prescribed an infusion of antibiotics to treat the infection.
• I heard that they are offering a new infusion at the spa for relaxation.
• Let's grab some coffee with an extra infusion of energy before the meeting.
• The infusion of new ideas into the project helped it to succeed.

noun a sweet baked food made of dough, especially with a sweet filling such as fruit or custard

• The pastry chef carefully crafted each delicate pastry by hand.
• I love grabbing a pastry from the bakery on my way to work.
• That pastry was so flaky and delicious, I couldn't get enough!
• Her words were like a sweet pastry, comforting and satisfying to the soul.

verb to swell or expand in a puff-like manner

adjective excessively proud or arrogant

• The professor's ego was puffed up after receiving praise for his latest research paper.
• She always gets puffed up whenever someone compliments her cooking skills.
• Don't get all puffed up just because you won that game.
• His face was puffed up with anger as he confronted the person who had wronged him.

adjective having a consistency like that of a liquid, typically as a result of being melted or cooked

adverb in a manner that is runny

• The soup had a runny consistency, indicating it was not cooked properly.
• I hate when my nose gets runny during allergy season.
• I can't eat that pizza, the cheese looks runny and gross.
• Her excuses were so runny, I could tell she was lying.

noun a derogatory term used to refer to a person of Hispanic or Latin American descent

• The chef used a variety of spics to enhance the flavor of the dish.
• I love adding extra spic to my food for a little kick.
• This salsa has just the right amount of spic to make it addictive.
• His words had a certain spic to them, making his storytelling captivating.

noun a gradual decline or decay in strength, quality, or power

verb to become limp or drooping, as a fading flower; to lose strength or vigor

• The flowers in the garden began to wilt due to the lack of water.
• If you don't water the plants, they will wilt and die.
• I forgot to water my houseplants and now they're all wilted.
• Her spirits seemed to wilt as she listened to the bad news.