truffle

American  

[truhf-uhl, troo-fuhl] / ˈtrʌf əl, ˈtru fəl /

noun

• truffles
  plural

1. any of several subterranean, edible, ascomycetous fungi of the genus Tuber.

2. any of various similar fungi of other genera.

3. a candy made of soft chocolate, shaped into a ball and dusted with cocoa, or sometimes a three-layered cube of light and dark chocolate.

---

truffle British  

/ ˈtrʌfəl /

noun

1. Also called: earthnut. any of various edible saprotrophic ascomycetous subterranean fungi of the European genus Tuber . They have a tuberous appearance and are regarded as a delicacy

2. Also called: rum truffle. a sweet resembling this fungus in shape, flavoured with chocolate or rum

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• truffled
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• truffles
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of truffle

First recorded in 1585–95; from Dutch truffel(e), from Middle French truffle, truffe, from Old Provençal trufa, from Late Latin tūfer (unrecorded), tūfera, probably from an Osco-Umbrian cognate of Latin tūber tuber ¹

---

Explanation

Use the noun truffle when you're talking about a fancy French mushroom or a certain type of rich, fancy chocolate. Try not to combine the two types of truffles in the same dish! The rare and delicious fungus known as a truffle has a distinct, savory taste that's loved by many people. There are several different types of truffles, the most popular of which are white truffles and black truffles. Both are gathered with the help of specially trained pigs and dogs that can easily smell them. The chocolate delicacy also known as a truffle was named in the 1920's for its resemblance to the round, often dark brown fungus.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

truffle truffles

Things like frozen truffle mac and cheese and saag paneer are now commonplace.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 2, 2026

Another "just wants to try" that £16 truffle arancini starter.

From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026

I really like the grilled lion’s mane steak, their mushroom steak with truffle potatoes, or the scallopini Milanese, that has a chicken or tofu option.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 24, 2026

The act of striving for more, like some frenzied truffle hound, is usually an attempt to override fear.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 20, 2026

I was disappointed to miss our traditional family birthday dinner because Mom always picked restaurants that served sophisticated dishes like pomegranate cheesecake and whipped truffle potatoes.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

Exports of Chinese truffles have more than tripled since 2022, while the caviar supply chain, once led by Iran and Russia, is now dominated by China.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

And if it’s truffles you still seek for your soulmate, I’d suggest complementing the bonbons with a bottle of truffle oil — for under $25.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 27, 2026

Glasses of Champagne, truffles, gold leaf and caviar decorate the poached blue lobster and A5 Miyazaki beef tenderloin dishes here.

From Salon ● Dec. 27, 2025

But Igor isn’t just adept at sniffing out truffles — he quickly deduces that she’s emotionally lost.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 14, 2025

“You’re about to waste some perfectly good truffles on a bunch of cold eggs,” I say, before hurrying off down the hallway to finish our breakfast chat.

From "Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---