dal
noun
dried and often split legumes, especially lentils or peas.
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dal
1 American
[dahl]
/ dɑl /
Or
dhal,
noun
-
dried and often split legumes, especially lentils or peas.
-
a sauce or dish made from cooked lentils and spices, common in South Asian cuisine.
dal
2
American
abbreviation
dāl
3
American
[dahl]
/ dɑl /
noun
Dal
4
American
[dahl]
/ dɑl /
noun
dal
1
British
/ dɑːl /
noun
-
split grain, a common foodstuff in India; pulse
-
a variant spelling of dhal
dal
2
British
symbol
Etymology
Origin of dal1
First recorded in 1690–1700; from Hindi dāl “split pulse, cooked pulse,” from Sanskrit dala, from dāl- “to split”
Origin of dāl3
From Arabic
Explanation
Dal is an Indian dish made using lentils and many delicious spices. Next time you go to an Indian restaurant, try ordering dal. The Hindi word dal can be used for any bean or legume that's split in half and can be cooked without soaking it first. Its Sanskrit root, also dal, means "to split." Dal is also the soup or stew made from split lentils, one of the most popular dishes in South Asia. A typical dal is made with onions, tomatoes, and whole spices fried in oil, and it is eaten with rice or a flat bread.
Vocabulary lists containing dal
Foods from Asia
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5th Grade World Cuisine, List 3
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Selection Vocabulary 4, Unit 1
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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.
Raynor Winn has never previously admitted that she wrote the book, but it was confirmed by her solicitors that she did write How Not to Dal Dy Dir.
From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026
Gangani is the name of a historic Celtic tribe in Wales, whilst Dal Dy Dir is a Welsh nationalist phrase, which means 'stand your ground'.
From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026
"I hope we can build on the success of the first series," added Huw Chiswell, the director of Dal y Mellt.
From BBC • Jan. 3, 2026
"I had friends in Ireland contacting me to say: 'Hey, I've just seen you in Dal y Mellt,' which was brilliant," she said.
From BBC • Jan. 3, 2026
Dal clapped his hands and everyone rushed to take their proper place.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
