ingredient

American  

[in-gree-dee-uhnt] / ɪnˈgri di ənt /

noun

1. something that enters as an element into a mixture.

   Flour, eggs, and sugar are the main ingredients in the cake.

2. a constituent element of anything; component.

   the ingredients of political success.

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ingredient British  

/ ɪnˈɡriːdɪənt /

noun

1. a component of a mixture, compound, etc, esp in cooking

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Related Words

See element.

Etymology

Origin of ingredient

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English from Latin ingredient- (stem of ingrediēns ), present participle of ingredī “to go or step into, commence,” equivalent to in- in- ² + -gredient- “going”; gradient

Example Sentences

She faces hardship at every turn, searching for ingredients and feeling the looming pressure of what will happen to her if she fails.

From The Wall Street Journal

The recall of potentially contaminated infant formula has heaped scrutiny on Chinese firm Cabio Biotech, the supplier of an ingredient used in infant formula which is suspected of being tainted.

From Barron's

Often, Lam’s canvases are cultural melting pots whose ingredients refuse to melt.

From The Wall Street Journal

Jersey Mike’s sells all of the ingredients stacked high on its sandwiches in a bowl without the bread.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Oh, I’ve no doubt you could kill me. But this, right here, is the potion. It needs one more ingredient.”

From Literature

Related Words

• additive
• element
• factor
• piece