al dente
[ al -den-tey, -tee; Italian ahl -den-te ]
/ æl ˈdɛn teɪ, -ti; Italian ɑl ˈdɛn tɛ /
Save This Word!
adjective, adverb
(especially of pasta) cooked so as not to be too soft; firm to the bite: spaghetti al dente.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON AFFECT VS. EFFECT!
In effect, this quiz will prove whether or not you have the skills to know the difference between “affect” and “effect.”
Question 1 of 7
The rainy weather could not ________ my elated spirits on my graduation day.
Origin of al dente
1945–50; Italian: literally, to the tooth
Words nearby al dente
Aldan, Aldebaran, Aldeburgh, aldehyde, Alden, al dente, alder, alder buckthorn, alderfly, alder flycatcher, alderman
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for al dente
Why Do “Left” And “Right” Mean Liberal And Conservative?
What Is The Difference Between “It’s” And “Its”?
What Is “GOP” Short For?
“Effectiveness” vs. “Efficacy” vs. “Efficiency”: When To Use Each Word For The Best Results
“Vaccinate” vs. “Inoculate” vs. “Immunize”: What Are The Differences?
9 Of The Most Common Types of Pronouns
British Dictionary definitions for al dente
al dente
/ Italian (al ˈdɛnte) /
adjective
(of a pasta dish) cooked so as to be firm when eaten
Word Origin for al dente
literally: to the tooth
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012