au gratin

[ oh graht-n, oh grat-n, aw graht-n, aw grat-n; French oh gra-tan ]

adjectiveCooking.
  1. cooked or baked with a topping of either browned breadcrumbs and butter or grated cheese, or with both: au gratin potatoes;cauliflower au gratin.

Origin of au gratin

1
First recorded in 1800–10; from French: literally, “with the scraping,” (i.e., the burnt part)

Words Nearby au gratin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use au gratin in a sentence

  • He did not give them lentils to eat, but he gave them cauliflower au gratin and brown bread and cheese, and to drink, water.

    The Angel of Pain | E. F. Benson
  • Such a dish, which is known as celery au gratin, is prepared according to the accompanying recipe.

    Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 2 | Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
  • I want a beefsteak, with mushrooms, and some potatoes au gratin, like those we have in America.

    As Seen By Me | Lilian Bell
  • May be dressed like soles, (au gratin,) but the usual way is to boil or fry, and serve on a napkin with anchovy sauce in a boat.

  • Lobsters au gratin may also be served in silver, escalope shells if handy are preferred.

British Dictionary definitions for au gratin

au gratin

/ (French o ɡratɛ̃) /


adjective
  1. covered and cooked with browned breadcrumbs and sometimes cheese: Also: gratinated

Origin of au gratin

1
French, literally: with the grating

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