caviar

noun

cav·​i·​ar ˈka-vē-ˌär 

 also  ˈkä-

variants or less commonly caviare

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?

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

Here, two roe pros are answering all your biggest caviar questions. —Kelsey Mulvey, Sunset Magazine, 2 Oct. 2024

Best of all, the young butler served never-ending Champagne and caviar upon request. —Eleanor Hardy, Travel + Leisure, 13 Sep. 2024

Buzzy neo-bistro Lutèce in Georgetown switched to a weekend lunch menu to better adhere to its upscale model — more oysters and caviar, fewer egg dishes. —Anna Spiegel, Axios, 15 Aug. 2024

Your dishes are so creative — the caviar sundae for example was so unique! —Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

earlier cavery, caviarie, from obsolete Italian caviari, plural of caviaro, from Turkish havyar

First Known Use

circa 1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

caviar

noun

cav·​i·​ar

variants also caviare

ˈkav-ē-ˌär 

 also  ˈkäv-

: the salted eggs of a large fish (as the sturgeon) usually served as an appetizer