TRUFFLE

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does truffle mean? 

• TRUFFLE (noun)
  The noun TRUFFLE has 3 senses:

1. any of various highly prized edible subterranean fungi of the genus Tuber; grow naturally in southwestern Europe

2. edible subterranean fungus of the genus Tuber

3. creamy chocolate candy

  Familiarity information: TRUFFLE used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TRUFFLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any of various highly prized edible subterranean fungi of the genus Tuber; grow naturally in southwestern Europe

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Synonyms:

earth-ball; earthnut; truffle

Hypernyms ("truffle" is a kind of...):

fungus (an organism of the kingdom Fungi lacking chlorophyll and feeding on organic matter; ranging from unicellular or multicellular organisms to spore-bearing syncytia)

Holonyms ("truffle" is a member of...):

genus Tuber; Tuber (type genus of the Tuberaceae: fungi whose fruiting bodies are typically truffles)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Edible subterranean fungus of the genus Tuber

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Synonyms:

earthnut; truffle

Hypernyms ("truffle" is a kind of...):

veg; vegetable; veggie (edible seeds or roots or stems or leaves or bulbs or tubers or nonsweet fruits of any of numerous herbaceous plant)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Creamy chocolate candy

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Synonyms:

chocolate truffle; truffle

Hypernyms ("truffle" is a kind of...):

candy; confect (a rich sweet made of flavored sugar and often combined with fruit or nuts)

 Context examples 

Nigel, cried Sir Oliver, waving a great boiled ham over his head, I have come by something which I may eat with my truffles!

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It was this very morning that Norbury, my squire, lamed his horse in riding round in quest of one, for we have a bag of truffles, and nought to eat with them.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Not a pullet shall we see until we are in front of them; so I shall leave my Winchester runagates to the care of the provost-marshal, and I shall hie south with you, Nigel, with my truffles at my saddle-bow.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)