bao

noun

ˈbau̇ 

variants or less commonly baozi

ˈbau̇-ˈ(d)zə 

plural bao or baos also baozi or baozis

: a soft bread bun that is stuffed with a sweet or savory filling (such as fruit or meat) and is cooked by steaming or sometimes baking

A bao is a Chinese steamed bread roll with a filling of meat and vegetables.

—Barbara Hatch

Bao are bread-like dumplings, often steamed and served with a range of fillings.

—Birmingham (England) Post

A baozi is a fluffy, steamed dough ball packed with fillings of a seemingly endless assortment. … Baozi are usually eaten during breakfast but you'll see people indulging throughout the day.

—Manuela Zoninsein

also : the bun cooked without a filling and used as bread

In fact, the sauce—chunky and wonderful—is nice … even without the noodles. Paired with veggies or proteins in a wrap or a bao, it's delicious.

—Amy Drew Thompson

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Chinese (Beijing) bāozi, from bāo (as verb) "wrap, surround," (as noun) "bundle, package, envelope" + -zi, noun suffix

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined above