sesame oil: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral
Quick answer
What does “sesame oil” mean?
A cooking oil made from pressed sesame seeds.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A cooking oil made from pressed sesame seeds.
A flavorful oil used in various cuisines, prized for its nutty taste and high smoke point, also used in traditional medicine and cosmetics.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling remains the same. Usage frequency may be higher in American contexts due to broader popularity of Asian cuisines.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties. Associated with Asian, particularly East Asian, Middle Eastern, and South Asian cooking.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English corpus data, reflecting culinary trends.
Grammar
How to Use “sesame oil” in a Sentence
[verb] + sesame oil (e.g., add, use, drizzle)[adjective] + sesame oil (e.g., toasted, fragrant)sesame oil + [verb] (e.g., sesame oil adds flavour)sesame oil + [noun] (e.g., sesame oil dressing)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sesame oil” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The recipe says to sesame-oil the wok first. (very rare, non-standard)
American English
- To finish the dish, you can almost sesame-oil it to taste. (very rare, non-standard)
adverb
British English
- He cooked the vegetables sesame-oily. (rare, non-standard)
American English
- She drizzled it sesame-oily over the noodles. (rare, non-standard)
adjective
British English
- The sesame-oil flavour was quite pronounced.
- A sesame-oil dressing works well here.
American English
- The sesame-oil aroma filled the kitchen.
- I prefer a sesame-oil base for the marinade.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in food import/export, retail (supermarket aisles), and restaurant supply contexts.
Academic
Appears in nutritional science, culinary history, and agricultural studies.
Everyday
Common in cooking instructions, recipes, and grocery lists.
Technical
Used in food science specifying smoke point, fatty acid composition, or extraction methods.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sesame oil”
- Using plural incorrectly (e.g., 'sesames oil').
- Confusing 'sesame seed oil' (redundant) with the standard 'sesame oil'.
- Misspelling as 'sesami oil' or 'seseme oil'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Light sesame oil is made from raw seeds, has a mild flavour and high smoke point, suitable for frying. Dark (toasted) sesame oil is made from toasted seeds, has a strong nutty flavour and lower smoke point, used as a finishing oil.
Yes, in moderation. It contains antioxidants and unsaturated fats. However, like all oils, it is high in calories and should be used sparingly.
For cooking, a neutral oil like vegetable oil can substitute light sesame oil. For flavour, there is no perfect substitute, but a small amount of another nut oil (e.g., walnut) or roasted nut butter thinned with water might approximate it.
Store it in a cool, dark place. Toasted sesame oil, in particular, can go rancid more quickly due to its compounds, so some recommend refrigeration after opening to preserve its flavour.
A cooking oil made from pressed sesame seeds.
Sesame oil is usually neutral in register.
Sesame oil: in British English it is pronounced /ˈses.ə.mi ɔɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈses.ə.mi ɔɪl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Open sesame (related etymologically via the plant name, but not directly to the oil)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the phrase 'Open Sesame' from Ali Baba – imagine the cave door opening to reveal bottles of fragrant oil.
Conceptual Metaphor
OIL IS FLAVOUR (e.g., 'The sesame oil carries the flavour of the dish').
Practice
Quiz
Which type of sesame oil is typically used as a finishing oil for its strong flavour?