sauce

1 of 2

noun

ˈsȯs 

 usually  for sense 4 ˈsas

1

: a condiment or relish for food

especially : a fluid dressing or topping

2

: something that adds zest or piquancy

3

: stewed fruit eaten with other food or as a dessert

4

: pert or impudent language or actions

5

slang : liquor

—used with the

sauce

2 of 2

verb

ˈsȯs 

 usually  for sense 3 ˈsas

sauced; saucing

transitive verb

1

a

: to dress with relish or seasoning

b

: to cover or serve with a sauce

2

a

archaic : to modify the harsh or unpleasant characteristics of

b

: to give zest or piquancy to

3

: to be rude or impudent to

Synonyms

Noun

• dressing
• gravy

Examples of sauce in a Sentence

Noun

She tried several sauces before she found one she liked.

chicken in a cream sauce

Cover the strawberries with the chocolate sauce.

This pizza needs more sauce.

I've had enough of your sauce!

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Marcella Hazan’s famous three-ingredient tomato sauce is a Genius Recipe, as is the radicchio salad with Manchego vinaigrette, from a Spanish restaurant in Portland, Oregon, called Toro Bravo (now closed), and the Smitten Kitchen mushroom bourguignonne. —Hannah Whitaker, The New Yorker, 22 Apr. 2024

Cook just until sauce is thickened, about 2 minutes. —Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 20 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin salsa, feminine of salsus salted, from past participle of sallere to salt, from sal salt — more at salt

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sauce

• alfredo sauce
• barbecue sauce
• béarnaise sauce
• bordelaise sauce
• brown sauce
• chili sauce
• cocktail sauce
• duck sauce
• hard sauce
• hoisin sauce
• hot fudge sauce
• hot sauce
• Mornay sauce
• mother sauce
• Nantua sauce
• off the sauce
• on the sauce
• secret sauce
• soya sauce
• soy sauce
• special sauce
• tartare sauce
• tartar sauce
• the sauce
• weak sauce
• what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander
• white sauce
• Worcestershire sauce

Kids Definition

sauce

1 of 2 noun

ˈsȯs 

1

: a thick liquid that is eaten with or on food to add flavor

a tangy pasta sauce

ice cream with chocolate sauce

2

: boiled or canned fruit

cranberry sauce

3

: rude or impolite language or actions

sauce

2 of 2 verb

sauced; saucing

1

: to add sauce to : season

2

: to be rude or impudent to