bisque: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal/Culinary/Artistic
Quick answer
What does “bisque” mean?
A thick, rich, creamy soup, typically made from puréed shellfish (especially lobster, crab, or crayfish) or vegetables (especially tomato).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A thick, rich, creamy soup, typically made from puréed shellfish (especially lobster, crab, or crayfish) or vegetables (especially tomato).
1. A pinkish-tan or pale orange-brown color, named after the soup. 2. In ceramics, a type of unglazed, fired porcelain or biscuitware with a matte, porous finish. 3. (Archaic) In tennis and other games, a point or advantage given freely, such as an extra turn or stroke.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The culinary and ceramic meanings are identical. The archaic gaming term 'bisque' is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Primarily evokes fine dining, gourmet cooking, or high-end pottery in both varieties.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse; more frequent in culinary, art, and design contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “bisque” in a Sentence
[Subject: chef/restaurant] + [Verb: serves/makes] + [Object: bisque] + [Complement: (made) from/of lobster][Determiner: The/A] + [Adjective: creamy/rich] + [Noun: bisque] + [Verb: was] + [Complement: delicious]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bisque” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Obsolete/Not used as a verb in modern English)
American English
- (Obsolete/Not used as a verb in modern English)
adverb
British English
- (Not used as an adverb)
American English
- (Not used as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- She chose a bisque-coloured fabric for the curtains.
- The bisque porcelain figure was exquisitely detailed.
American English
- She chose a bisque-colored fabric for the drapes.
- The bisque ceramic tile had a lovely matte finish.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in restaurant menus, hospitality, and food retail.
Academic
Used in culinary arts, food history, and material culture/ceramics studies.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation unless discussing specific meals, recipes, or home décor colors.
Technical
Standard term in professional kitchens and ceramics/pottery.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bisque”
- Mispronouncing as /baɪsk/ (like 'bike').
- Confusing the soup with 'chowder' (which is chunkier).
- Using 'bisque' as a general term for any cream soup.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. While traditionally made from shellfish, the term has broadened to include rich, creamy vegetable purées, with tomato being a very common variant.
Bisque is a smooth, puréed soup. Chowder is a thicker, chunkier stew-like soup, often with pieces of potato, seafood, and vegetables.
No, 'bisque' is not used as a verb in contemporary English. It is a noun (the soup, the pottery) or an adjective (the colour).
They are homographs (same spelling) with different origins. The soup comes from French. The ceramic term comes from the French 'biscuit', meaning 'twice-cooked', referring to the firing process.
A thick, rich, creamy soup, typically made from puréed shellfish (especially lobster, crab, or crayfish) or vegetables (especially tomato).
Bisque is usually formal/culinary/artistic in register.
Bisque: in British English it is pronounced /bɪsk/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪsk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Bisque' sounds like 'biscuit'. A ceramic bisque is like a biscuit (unglazed pottery). The soup is thick and smooth, not crumbly like a biscuit, but the shared sound helps link the two main meanings.
Conceptual Metaphor
LUXURY/REFINEMENT IS A RICH SOUP (e.g., 'The summit began with a lobster bisque, setting a tone of refined diplomacy').
Practice
Quiz
In a professional kitchen, 'bisque' most specifically refers to: