garnish

[ gahr-nish ]

/ ˈgɑr nɪʃ /

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See synonyms for: garnish / garnished / garnishing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to provide or supply with something ornamental; adorn; decorate: a free-standing wall whose lower reaches are garnished by hanging gardens.

to provide (a food) with something that adds flavor, decorative color, etc.: to garnish boiled potatoes with chopped parsley.

Law.

to attach (as money due or property belonging to a debtor) by garnishment; garnishee: The court garnished his wages when he refused to pay child support.
to summon in, so as to take part in litigation already pending between others.

noun

something placed around or on a food or in a beverage to add flavor, decorative color, etc.

adornment or decoration.

Chiefly British. a fee formerly demanded of a new convict or worker by the warden, boss, or fellow prisoners or workers.

OTHER WORDS FOR garnish

1 embellish, ornament, beautify, trim, bedeck, bedizen, set off, enhance.

5 ornament; garniture.

See synonyms for garnish on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of garnish

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English garnishen, from Old French garniss- (extended stem of garnir, guarnir “to furnish,” from Germanic ); cf. warn

OTHER WORDS FROM garnish

gar·nish·a·ble, adjectivegar·nish·er, nouno·ver·gar·nish, verb (used with object)re·gar·nish, verb (used with object)

un·der·gar·nish, verb (used with object)un·gar·nished, adjectivewell-garnished, adjective

Words nearby garnish

garnetiferous, garnet paper, garnett, garni, garnierite, garnish, garnishee, garnishment, garniture, Garonne, garote

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use garnish in a sentence

That didn’t stop me from popping the mustardy orbs in my mouth, then swabbing the fiery seafood garnish from the box.
Like a good neighbor, Pennyroyal Station is there for you|Tom Sietsema|January 22, 2021|Washington Post
Fresh or dried herbs can work as a garnish sprinkled on top or be used to infuse milk or cream with extra flavor.
Potatoes aren’t the only vegetables you should be mashing|Aaron Hutcherson|January 20, 2021|Washington Post
If your celery root happens to come with leaves attached, chop them as a nice green garnish.
Mashed celery root shines in this bright vegan side dish|Aaron Hutcherson|January 20, 2021|Washington Post
Assemble tacos by topping tortillas with the beef-pineapple filling, jicama slaw, and garnishes.
How to Cook with Plant-Based Beef|Christine Byrne|January 16, 2021|Outside Online

Tie the dill, reserving a few sprigs for garnish if desired, and bay leaf together with kitchen twine.
Leeks and fresh dill take cozy split pea soup from drab to fab|Ellie Krieger|January 6, 2021|Washington Post
CeleryThis often-overlooked veggie is way more than chicken wing garnish!
10 Ways to Stay Hydrated (That Aren’t Water)|DailyBurn|July 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Chill them in the ice water, strain, pat dry, and reserve for the garnish.
Daniel Boulud Reveals His 4 Favorite Recipes From His New Cookbook|Daniel Boulud|October 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And just how many young drug dealers even have bank accounts, or paychecks to garnish?
Should People Be Forced to Buy Liability Insurance for their Guns?|Megan McArdle|December 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
To assemble taco place escabeche, fish and tartar sauce in a tortilla and garnish with cilantro and lime.
Cinco de Mayo Recipes: Tacos for One and All||May 4, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Strain over crushed ice and garnish with a lime wedge and maraschino cherry.
Lights, Camera, Cocktails|Brody Brown|October 29, 2011|DAILY BEAST
They manufacture clothes and wares, and we garnish ourselves with them.
The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, and Destiny of the Colored People of the United States|Martin R. Delany
When done, dish up the chicken in a pyramid, garnish with the fried onions and cover with tomato sauce.
Dressed Game and Poultry la Mode|Harriet A. de Salis
Small pieces of cauliflower and crotons of fried bread should garnish this dish.
Dressed Game and Poultry la Mode|Harriet A. de Salis
Lift them out very tenderly, pile them up in a pyramid on a dish, and garnish them with fried potatoes.
Dressed Game and Poultry la Mode|Harriet A. de Salis
Have a pyramid of mashed potatoes ready, and arrange the larks round it, and garnish with a macdoine of mixed vegetables.
Dressed Game and Poultry la Mode|Harriet A. de Salis

British Dictionary definitions for garnish

garnish

/ (ˈɡɑːnɪʃ) /

verb (tr)

to decorate; trim

to add something to (food) in order to improve its appearance or flavour

law

to serve with notice of proceedings; warn
obsolete to summon to proceedings already in progress
to attach (a debt)

slang to extort money from

noun

a decoration; trimming

something, such as parsley, added to a dish for its flavour or decorative effect

obsolete, slang a payment illegally extorted, as from a prisoner by his jailer

Derived forms of garnish

garnisher, noun

Word Origin for garnish

C14: from Old French garnir to adorn, equip, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German warnōn to pay heed

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

garnish

OTHER WORDS FOR garnish

Origin of garnish

OTHER WORDS FROM garnish

Words nearby garnish

Words related to garnish

How to use garnish in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for garnish

Derived forms of garnish

Word Origin for garnish