julienne

American  

[joo-lee-en, zhy-lyen] / ˌdʒu liˈɛn, ʒüˈlyɛn /

adjective

1. (of food, especially vegetables) cut into thin strips or small, matchlike pieces.

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noun

1. a clear soup garnished, before serving, with julienne vegetables.

verb (used with object)

julienned, julienning

1. to cut (something, especially a vegetable) into thin strips or small, matchlike pieces.

   I spent a half hour julienning the carrots.

julienne British  

/ ˌdʒuːlɪˈɛn /

adjective

1. (of vegetables) cut into thin shreds

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noun

1. a clear consommé to which a mixture of such vegetables has been added

Etymology

Origin of julienne

1835–45; < French, generic use of Julienne woman's name

Explanation

A chef makes a julienne when she cuts vegetables into thin strips. A recipe might call for a julienne of six carrots. To make a neat, even julienne, you need a very sharp knife, a cutting board, and some vegetables. When you chop vegetables this way, you julienne them. The word comes from a soup of the same name, which is prepared with thin strips of vegetables garnishing it — in French a potage julienne.

Example Sentences

Dice, julienne, brunoise, chiffonade — not to impress anyone, but to move with more ease and less hesitation.

From Salon • Dec. 20, 2025

White bean soup is comfort food made glorious, thanks to a pink island of julienne country ham sporting a tuft of peppered whipped cream.

From Washington Post • Dec. 10, 2021

The mac and cheese came with a trio of sides: spinach soufflé, julienne carrots and a tossed green salad.

From New York Times • Nov. 4, 2021

Olia Hercules, cookbook author, @oliahercules Roughly grate or julienne a handful of carrots.

From The Guardian • Apr. 15, 2020

And there he had fried chicken, julienne potatoes, hot biscuits and honey, and a piece of pineapple pie and blue cheese.

From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck