caviar

noun

cav·i·ar | \ˈka-vē-ˌär also ˈkä-

\

variants: or less commonly caviare

Definition of caviar

1 : processed salted roe of large fish (such as sturgeon)

2 : something considered too delicate or lofty for mass appreciation —usually used in the phrase caviar to the general

3 : something considered the best of its kind

Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about caviar

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Did You Know?

The eggs, or roe, of sturgeon are called caviar. Preserved with salt, caviar is usually eaten as an appetizer. Most true caviar is produced in Russia and Iran, from fish taken from the Caspian and Black seas. The best grade, beluga, is prepared from large black or gray eggs; fresh beluga caviar is relatively scarce and thus expensive. Lesser grades are from smaller, denser eggs. In the U.S., the roe of salmon, whitefish, lumpfish, and paddlefish is sometimes sold under the name caviar.

Examples of caviar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Pair your caviar with potato chips and crème fraîche for an easy-breezy affair. — Madeleine Luckel, Vogue, "A Champagne Lover’s Guide to Hosting a Last-Minute Bastille Day Soirée," 13 July 2018 Customers can add caviar to their omelets for an extra fee. — Joyce Smith, kansascity, "Iconic Savoy restaurant aims for 'throwback' feel with fun, like blue cotton candy," 30 June 2018 Kentucky fishermen have quietly made caviar for decades. — Louisville Courier Journal, The Courier-Journal, "5 things to know Friday: Crackdown on docs, Kentucky caviar and downtown construction," 29 June 2018 Hors d’oeuvres might include Russian caviar with potato blinis, quail or escargot terrine, and entrees might feature Texas antelope and filet mignon. — Katherine Rodeghier, chicagotribune.com, "Midwest eats: Spice up your meal by dining in one of these repurposed restaurants," 26 June 2018 There’s an arresting sequence of extracting caviar from sturgeon in China and some fairly banal chitchat with François Hollande, France’s former president. — Florence Fabricant, New York Times, "Documentary Follows Alain Ducasse on a Quest for Perfection," 4 June 2018 Most just want the eggs to sell as caviar, which can fetch $100 an ounce. — John Carlisle, Detroit Free Press, "How a party in Up North woods is helping Michigan sturgeon survive," 26 May 2018 If a player does an awkward celebratory dance ... eat some celebratory caviar. — Extra Mustard, SI.com, "The 2018 NCAA Tournament Eating Game," 15 Mar. 2018 People even stopped waiters carrying platters of mini pancakes piled with mini mountains of caviar to get a picture of the food. — Cam Wolf, GQ, "James Harden Owns the Iciest Watch You've Ever Seen," 30 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'caviar.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

11 Nov 2018

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Time Traveler for caviar

The first known use of caviar was circa 1560

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More Definitions for caviar

caviar

noun

English Language Learners Definition of caviar

: the eggs of a large fish (such as the sturgeon) that are salted and eaten as food

See the full definition for caviar in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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