mayonnaise: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “mayonnaise” mean?
A thick, creamy, cold sauce or dressing made by emulsifying egg yolks, oil, and vinegar or lemon juice, often seasoned.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A thick, creamy, cold sauce or dressing made by emulsifying egg yolks, oil, and vinegar or lemon juice, often seasoned.
A light yellow or beige color resembling the sauce; used informally to describe a mixture or situation that is bland, emulsified, or smoothly combined.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and primary meaning are identical. Minor differences in typical brand associations (e.g., Hellmann's in the US vs. Hellmann's/Best Foods in the UK). The clipped form 'mayo' is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, strongly associated with sandwiches, salads, and fast food. In the UK, also a common condiment with 'chips' (fries). No significant connotative differences.
Frequency
Equally high-frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “mayonnaise” in a Sentence
[NP] with mayonnaise[NP] without mayonnaise[NP] + be + made with mayonnaiseadd [NP] of mayonnaise to [NP]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mayonnaise” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He mayonnaised the potatoes for the salad.
- Would you like me to mayonnaise your sandwich?
American English
- She mayonnaised the coleslaw mix thoroughly.
- I'm going to mayonnaise this burger.
adjective
British English
- She prepared a mayonnaise dip for the crisps.
- The mayonnaise jar was nearly empty.
American English
- He ordered a mayonnaise-based dressing.
- The mayonnaise stain on his shirt was obvious.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the context of food manufacturing, retail, and culinary supply chains.
Academic
Rare, except in food science, chemistry (emulsions), or cultural studies discussing food.
Everyday
Extremely common in domestic and casual contexts related to cooking, sandwiches, and salads.
Technical
In culinary arts, refers to a mother sauce of the cold sauce category; in chemistry, a classic example of a stable oil-in-water emulsion.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mayonnaise”
- Using 'a mayonnaise' incorrectly for an uncountable substance (e.g., 'I want a mayonnaise' vs. 'I want some mayonnaise').
- Misspelling: 'mayonaise' (missing 'n'), 'mayonnase'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily uncountable (e.g., 'some mayonnaise'). It can be countable when referring to different types or servings (e.g., 'We sampled three different mayonnaises').
Traditional aioli is an emulsion of garlic and olive oil, often without egg yolks. Modern usage often equates garlic-flavoured mayonnaise with aioli, but purists maintain the distinction.
In British English, the stress is often on the third syllable: /ˌmeɪ.əˈneɪz/. In American English, the primary stress is often on the first syllable: /ˈmeɪ.ə.neɪz/.
Yes, informally, meaning 'to cover or mix with mayonnaise' (e.g., 'mayonnaised potatoes'), though this usage is not formal.
A thick, creamy, cold sauce or dressing made by emulsifying egg yolks, oil, and vinegar or lemon juice, often seasoned.
Mayonnaise is usually neutral in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MAYONNAISE: MAY be ON your sandwich, or it MAY be ON your salad, but it's always EASY (n-ay-s) to spread.
Conceptual Metaphor
CREAMINESS/UNIFORMITY IS MAYONNAISE (e.g., 'The political debate became a bland mayonnaise of opinions').
Practice
Quiz
In culinary terminology, mayonnaise is primarily classified as what?