kettle

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noun ket·tle \ ˈke-tᵊl \

Definition of kettle

1 :a metallic vessel usually used for boiling liquids; especially :teakettle

2 :kettledrum

3 a :pothole 1b

b :a steep-sided hollow without surface drainage especially in a deposit of glacial drift

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Recent Examples of kettle from the Web

Put bean sprouts and spinach into colander and pour a kettle full of boiling water over them.

— ann maloney, NOLA.com, "A twist to Labor Day grilling party menus, from cocktails to dessert," 30 Aug. 2017
Buy Photo This summer, Herr’s added a kick to its bags of kettle corn: a dusting of Old Bay seasoning from Chickie’s & Pete’s crab fries.

— allison steele, Philly.com, "Kettle corn with an Old Bay kick is sweet and crabby," 29 Aug. 2017
Spain is a different kettle of fish to England, and his lack of physical presence could lead to him being bullied on the pitch and disappearing.

— SI.com, "Hit or Miss? Taking a Look at Swansea's Rumoured Midfield Targets & Whether They're Worth Signing," 21 July 2017
His specialty was household products, like toasters, kettles, and blenders.

— ian bogost, The Atlantic, "Why a Toaster Is a Design Triumph," 20 July 2017
Four types of fish, from grouper to sole ($19.99-$29.99), get cooked in a giant electric grill plopped in the middle of the dining room, a contraption that’s a cross between a beer kettle and a domed pizza oven.

— tan vinh, The Seattle Times, "JoyFish: Aurora on the outside, Vegas on the inside, and a whole fish to enjoy," 11 July 2017
The chips were at once crispy and soft a boasted a richness that probably wears off after a few hours out of the kettle.

— andy staples, SI.com, "Where to eat, drink in Pensacola, Florida," 30 June 2017
Admission is free, and a variety of food vendors will offer hotdogs and hamburgers, BBQ corn and kettle corn, Italian ice and more.

— cynthia zanone, Pacific San Diego Magazine, "Celebrate with a bang: 4th of July fireworks shows," 28 June 2017
Mom used to cook this on top of the stove in a big iron kettle.

— Cincinnati.com, "Cottage ham a favorite for three generations," 28 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of kettle

Middle English ketel, from Old Norse ketill (akin to Old English cietel kettle), both from a prehistoric Germanic word borrowed from Latin catillus, diminutive of catinus bowl

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First Known Use: 13th century

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KETTLE Defined for English Language Learners

kettle

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noun

Definition of kettle for English Language Learners

: a container used for heating or boiling liquid

KETTLE Defined for Kids

kettle

play

noun ket·tle \ ˈke-tᵊl \

Definition of kettle for Students

1 :a pot for boiling liquids

2 :teakettle

Learn More about kettle

See words that rhyme with kettle Spanish Central: Translation of kettle Nglish: Translation of kettle for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of kettle for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about kettle

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kettle

Definition of kettle

Recent Examples of kettle from the Web

Origin and Etymology of kettle

KETTLE Defined for English Language Learners

kettle

Definition of kettle for English Language Learners

KETTLE Defined for Kids

kettle

Definition of kettle for Students

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