Definition

A Japanese dish made by coating seafood or vegetables in batter and frying them until crispy.

Example

I ordered tempura for dinner, and it was delicious and crunchy.

Conversation

Have you ever tried tempura at that new Japanese restaurant?

Not yet, but I've heard it's really good!

You should definitely go; their tempura is amazing!

I will! It sounds delicious.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Tempura originates from the Latin word 'tempora', which means 'times' or 'seasons'. The term was adapted into Portuguese as 'tempero', referring to the seasoning of food, and later into Japanese as 'tempura', which describes a method of frying vegetables or seafood in a light batter. The word reflects the seasonal nature of the ingredients used in this cooking style.

Memory Tip

Think of 'times' or 'seasons' when remembering that 'tempura' refers to a dish made with seasonal ingredients, lightly battered and fried.

Visually Confused Words