Ingredient
/ɪnˈɡriːdiənt/
Definitions
A component that is used to make something else. Especially something used in cooking to make a specific dish.
/ɪnˈɡriːdiənt/
A component part of a mixture or recipe.
The main ingredients of a cake are flour, sugar, eggs, and butter.
💡 Simply: An ingredient is like the different pieces you need to put together to make something. Like, the ingredients of a cake are flour, sugar, and eggs.
👶 For kids: Something that goes into a recipe to make food!
More Examples
This sauce has too many ingredients to make from scratch.
To make the perfect pizza, you need fresh ingredients.
How It's Used
"The recipe calls for flour, sugar, and eggs as main ingredients."
"The chemical reaction requires specific ingredients to occur."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
From Latin 'ingrediens' (present participle of 'ingredī', to enter, go in), referring to something that goes into a mixture. Related to 'ingress' (a way in).
The word 'ingredient' has been used in culinary and scientific contexts since the 16th century, initially referring to components in medicines and later expanding to food preparation.
Memory tip
Think of what goes *in* a dish or a compound.
Word Origin
"to go in, enter"