truffle

American  

[truhf-uhl, troo-fuhl] / ˈtrʌf əl, ˈtru fəl /

noun

1. any of several subterranean, edible, ascomycetous fungi of the genus Tuber.

2. any of various similar fungi of other genera.

3. a candy made of soft chocolate, shaped into a ball and dusted with cocoa, or sometimes a three-layered cube of light and dark chocolate.

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truffle British  

/ ˈtrʌfəl /

noun

1. Also called: earthnut.  any of various edible saprotrophic ascomycetous subterranean fungi of the European genus Tuber . They have a tuberous appearance and are regarded as a delicacy

2. Also called: rum truffle.  a sweet resembling this fungus in shape, flavoured with chocolate or rum

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Other Word Forms

• truffled adjective

Etymology

Origin of truffle

First recorded in 1585–95; from Dutch truffel(e), from Middle French truffle, truffe, from Old Provençal trufa, from Late Latin tūfer (unrecorded), tūfera, probably from an Osco-Umbrian cognate of Latin tūber tuber ¹

Example Sentences

"You'll find a restaurant in Goa serving a pork vindaloo naan or a butter chicken naan, while there's one in Hong Kong that serves a truffle cheese naan," Mr Saran says.

From BBC

Hall tentatively dips a fry into the truffle aioli sauce.

From Los Angeles Times

She also mixes crumbled bacon and a few drops of black truffle oil to the dish before baking it with a thick layer of freshly chopped bread crumbs.

From Salon

Indeed, Dalia has trouble with her Italian, and when she offers to help him find truffles, he insists his granddaughter doesn’t have the instincts or the calloused hands necessary for the job.

From Los Angeles Times

A glass filled with black truffle cream in which a perfectly soft-cooked egg rests, topped with crisp French fries and dust of jamón.

From Salon