flour

[ flouuhr, flou-er ]

noun

1. the finely ground meal of grain, especially the finer meal separated by bolting.
2. the finely ground and bolted meal of wheat, as that used in baking.
3. any finely ground meal resembling this, as of nuts or legumes: chickpea flour.

   almond flour;

   chickpea flour.

4. a finely ground, powdery foodstuff, as of dehydrated potatoes, fish, or bananas.
5. a fine, soft powder:

   flour of emery.

verb (used with object)

1. to grind (grain or the like) into flour.
2. to sprinkle or dredge with flour:

   Flour the chicken before frying.

verb (used without object)

1. (of mercury) to refuse to amalgamate with another metal because of some impurity of the metal; lie on the surface of the metal in the form of minute globules.
2. to disintegrate into minute particles.

flour

/ ˈflaʊə /

noun

1. a powder, which may be either fine or coarse, prepared by sifting and grinding the meal of a grass, esp wheat
2. any finely powdered substance

verb

1. tr to make (grain) into flour
2. tr to dredge or sprinkle (food or cooking utensils) with flour
3. (of mercury) to break into fine particles on the surface of a metal rather than amalgamating, or to produce such an effect on (a metal). The effect is caused by impurities, esp sulphur

Derived Forms

• ˈfloury, adjective

Other Words From

• flour·less adjective
• o·ver·flour verb
• un·floured adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of flour¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English flour, flur, flower, special use of flower (in the sense “finest part”); compare French fleur de farine “the flower, or finest part, of meal”

Word History and Origins

Origin of flour¹

C13 flur finer portion of meal, flower

Example Sentences

Add 4 cups flour and mix with a wooden spoon until dough comes together in a shaggy ball with only a few dry spots of flour remaining.

From Eater

Akiyama walked me through his very focused process of noodle making—water from here, flour from there—and it hit me how the zen focus of mixing by hand not only served a spiritual purpose, but also a very tangible one.

From Popular-Science

How the flour, water, and ultimately dough should feel is something one doesn’t get when using a machine.

From Popular-Science

This 12-pack of flour sack towels make excellent companions for busy meal preparation and can even act as a food strainer or help keep fresh baked goods warm.

From Popular-Science

If dough is very wet and sticky, add up to an additional ¼ cup of flour to achieve desired consistency.

From Eater

Place the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt on parchment or wax paper.

From The Daily Beast

This will make it easy to pour the flour mixture into the stand mixer.

From The Daily Beast

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 6, 1/2-cup ramekins and set aside.

From The Daily Beast

Shake off any excess flour and gently place in the heated oil.

From The Daily Beast

Remove some shallots from the buttermilk and dredge in the seasoned flour mixture.

From The Daily Beast

Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour, and make a fat offering, and then give place to the physician.

From Project Gutenberg

Chloride of Lime … bad smell … bad egg … white of egg … fowl … grain … flour … flour and water … milk fluid … milk.

From Project Gutenberg

Those who carried wheat to the mill, from fifteen bushels brought back only twelve of flour, instead of eighteen.

From Project Gutenberg

It is obtained by placing a quantity of wheat flour in a bag, and kneading it under a gentle stream of water.

From Project Gutenberg

Old Olly's head's leveler than this mountain-side, even if his mouth is mealier 'n his own flour bags.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• grate