Definition

A Scandinavian dish made from raw salmon that is cured with salt, pepper, and dill, often served as an appetizer.

Example

We enjoyed gravlax with mustard sauce and rye bread at the restaurant.

Conversation

Have you ever tried gravlax?

Yes, I had it at that Scandinavian restaurant last week!

I heard it's really delicious, especially with some bread.

Absolutely! It's such a tasty appetizer.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Gravlax originates from the Swedish word 'gravlax', where 'grav' means 'grave' or 'hole' (referring to the method of curing) and 'lax' means 'salmon'. The term describes salmon that has been cured in a mixture of salt, sugar, and dill, traditionally buried in the ground to cure.

Memory Tip

Imagine salmon being 'buried' ('grav') in a mixture to cure it, which helps you remember that 'gravlax' refers to this special cured salmon.

Visually Confused Words