truffle
Syllabification: (truf·fle)
Pronunciation: /ˈtrəfəl/
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Definition of truffle
noun
- 1a strong-smelling underground fungus that resembles an irregular, rough-skinned potato, growing chiefly in broadleaved woodland on calcareous soils. It is considered a culinary delicacy and found, especially in France, with the aid of trained dogs or pigs.
- Family Tuberaceae, subdivision Ascomycotina: Tuber and other genera
Origin:
late 16th century: probably via Dutch from obsolete French truffle, perhaps based on Latin tubera, plural of tuber 'hump, swelling'. truffle (sense 2) dates from the 1920s