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• miso
  miso

  noun

  a fermented seasoning paste of soybeans, often with rice or barley added, used especially to flavor soups and sauces.
• miso-
  miso-

  a combining form meaning “hate,” with the object of hatred specified by the following element.

miso

¹ American  

[mee-soh, mee-saw] / ˈmi soʊ, ˈmi sɔ /

noun

Japanese Cooking.

1. a fermented seasoning paste of soybeans, often with rice or barley added, used especially to flavor soups and sauces.

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miso- ² American  

1. a combining form meaning “hate,” with the object of hatred specified by the following element.

   misogyny.

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miso ¹ British  

/ ˈmiːsəʊ /

noun

1. a thick brown salty paste made from soya beans, used to flavour savoury dishes, esp soups

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miso- ² British  

combining form

1. indicating hatred

   misogyny

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Etymology

Origin of miso¹

First recorded in 1720–30; from Japanese, probably from dialectal Korean, equivalent to Korean meju “soybean malt”

Origin of miso-²

< Greek, combining form of mīseîn to hate, mîsos hatred

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Explanation

Miso is a salty, fermented paste that's used in Japanese food. Miso soup and rice is a very common daily meal in Japan. The most common use for miso is in delicious, brothy soup, but it's also an ingredient in some kinds of ramen, pickles, and a sweet glaze for fish and vegetables. There are even Japanese desserts that call for miso. To make this versatile paste, soybeans are fermented with salt and other ingredients, sometimes including rice, seaweed, or fish. The root of miso is unknown, although it may derive from the Korean myècwú, a similar soybean-based sauce.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

miso

I like to doctor it with a little additional miso and coconut cream for richness, then pile on noodles, protein, vegetables and toppings.

From Salon ● Nov. 5, 2026

Specifically, green cabbage roasted in miso butter, then showered with crispy, lemony panko breadcrumbs.

From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2026

“My desserts lean into savory,” she said, citing ingredients like miso and goat cheese.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

Deepen the flavor: Once the vegetables are soft and jammy, stir in the garlic powder, miso, honey and red-pepper flakes.

From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026

She also went to my favorite little Japanese cafe and got me a bento box of Japanese fried chicken with rice, miso soup, and potato salad.

From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh

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