kombu

noun

kom·​bu ˈkäm-(ˌ)bü How to pronounce kombu (audio)
: an edible kelp (such as Saccharina japonica synonym Laminaria japonica) that is typically dried and aged and used especially in Japanese cooking as a seasoning in soup stock
The puzzling broth was dashi—the Japanese cook's basic soup stock—seasoned with another seaweed, kombu.Caroline Bates
Thick, dark green strips of kombu are used in soups and stews, and added to beans and grains to help tenderize them while cooking.Jan Wolff
The actual harvesting of kombu is done mainly from boats …H. Jesse Walker

Examples of kombu in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The only seasoning in Go’s porridge was salt and kombu; the minerality pushed forward the sweetness of the crab and rice. Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2024 The addition of tomatoes and a square of kelp or kombu deepens the flavors, creating a nourishing and satisfying soup. Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 1 Oct. 2024 Some people following vegan diets may be able to get adequate omega-3s from certain types of seaweed or beans that are preserved with kombu. Melissa Nieves, Verywell Health, 17 May 2024 Add sweet potatoes, dashi, kombu (if using), 5 tablespoons soy sauce, the mirin, sake and sugar. Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for kombu 

Word History

Etymology

Japanese

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kombu was in 1859

Dictionary Entries Near kombu

Cite this Entry

“Kombu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kombu. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!