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chow mein

American

[chou meyn] / ˌtʃaʊ ˈmeɪn /

noun

a Chinese-style dish of steamed or stir-fried vegetables, topped with shredded chicken, shrimp, etc., and served with fried noodles.

chow mein British

/ meɪn /

noun

a Chinese-American dish, consisting of mushrooms, meat, shrimps, etc, served with fried noodles

"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

Etymology

Origin of chow mein

1900–05, < Chinese chǎo fry + miàn noodles, or < cognate dial. forms

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

To tell that complicated story, Hethington depends on dishes like Guyanese chow mein and Trini-Chinese chicken.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

Will jollof or efo riro follow in the footsteps of tikka masala or chow mein to become UK favourites?

From BBC • Oct. 1, 2024

I’ll make chow mein with what I have in the fridge, it’s a pantry meal!

From Salon • Sep. 25, 2024

She also sells tostadas topped with chow mein, elote loco and rellenitos — plantains stuffed with refried black beans.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2023

"Because some people don't like chow mein for breakfast," Sydelle Pulaski replied.

From "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023