truffle

noun

truf·​fle ˈtrə-fəl  ˈtrü- 

1

a

: the dark or light edible subterranean fruiting body of several European ascomycetous fungi (especially genus Tuber)

also : any of various similar fruiting bodies of related fungi

b

: a fungus that produces truffles

2

: a candy made of chocolate, butter, sugar, and sometimes liqueur shaped into balls and often coated with cocoa

Examples of truffle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Air France’s first-class lounge in Paris, with the jewel-box bathrooms, offers fifteen-year-old Veuve Clicquot, twelve different brands of bottled water, and an Alain Ducasse restaurant serving foie gras and truffles. —Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025

Pair them with the matching $69 truffle brown AirEssentials Relaxed Long-sleeve Top for an easy-to-wear, layer-friendly travel outfit, or go bulkier for the winter season with the Track Jacket—now $56 off. —Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 24 Nov. 2025

The cozy notes of ginger, black pepper, and cardamom in chai are wonderfully paired with bittersweet chocolate in these homemade truffles. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2025

The dinner began with beef carpaccio with truffle served with crisp phyllo by Crazy Pizza followed by tortelli filled with cheese and black pepper offered by Giacomo Milano. —Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 21 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

modification of Middle French truffe, from Old Occitan trufa, from Vulgar Latin *tufera; akin to Latin tuber swelling, truffle — more at tuber

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for truffle

• duffel
• duffle
• muffle
• ruffle
• scuffle
• shuffle
• reshuffle

Kids Definition

truffle

noun

truf·​fle ˈtrəf-əl  ˈtrüf- 

: the dark or light wrinkled fruiting body of a European fungus that grows in the ground

also : a fungus that produces truffles