garnish

[ gahr-nish ]

/ ˈgɑr nɪʃ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR garnish ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to provide or supply with something ornamental; adorn; decorate.

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.

Nearby words

garnet paper, garnetiferous, garnett, garni, garnierite, garnish, garnishee, garnishment, garniture, garofalo, garonne

Origin of garnish

1300–50; Middle English garnishen < Old French garniss- (extended stem of garnir, guarnir to furnish < Gmc); cf. warn

SYNONYMS FOR garnish

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

5 ornament; garniture.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR garnish ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

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-gar·nished, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for garnish

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

Finish with Angostura bitters and garnish with a lemon wheel.
Lights, Camera, Cocktails|Brody Brown|September 23, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Pour the gravy hot round the cutlets, and garnish with little bunches of curled parsley.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches|Eliza Leslie
Put a slice of terrine de foie gras on top, garnish with peas au beurre and Julienne potatoes.
The Hotel St. Francis Cook Book|Victor Hirtzler
Stuffed olives are used principally in sauces, or as a garnish for meats and fish.
The Hotel St. Francis Cook Book|Victor Hirtzler
Always serve either cream or tomato sauce with croquettes and cutlets and garnish them with parsley or cress.
Mrs. Wilson's Cook Book|Mary A. Wilson
Sprinkle with salt, and serve them on a napkin, or as a garnish.
The Century Cook Book|Mary Ronald

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

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