spring roll: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, Neutral
Quick answer
What does “spring roll” mean?
A cylindrical, crisp-fried Asian appetizer or snack consisting of a thin pastry wrapper filled with vegetables, and sometimes meat or seafood.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A cylindrical, crisp-fried Asian appetizer or snack consisting of a thin pastry wrapper filled with vegetables, and sometimes meat or seafood.
Any dish or roll inspired by the original concept, including fresh (non-fried) Vietnamese versions or non-Asian fusion variations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is identical in both varieties. The concept is widespread, though the specific fillings or sauces served might vary slightly regionally.
Connotations
Connotes Asian cuisine, casual dining, takeaway food, or party appetizers equally in both regions.
Frequency
Equally common and well-understood in both BrE and AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “spring roll” in a Sentence
[verb] a spring roll (eat, order, make, fry)a spring roll [preposition] (with sweet chili sauce)a [adjective] spring roll (crispy, vegetarian)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Found on restaurant menus, catering brochures, or food industry reports.
Academic
May appear in cultural studies, culinary history, or nutrition texts discussing globalized food.
Everyday
Common in conversations about ordering food, describing a meal, or discussing cooking.
Technical
Used in culinary arts contexts specifying preparation techniques (e.g., rolling, frying).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “spring roll”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spring roll”
- Incorrect plural: 'spring roll' (singular), 'spring rolls' (plural).
- Misspelling as 'springrole' or 'spring-role'.
- Using 'spring roll' to refer to a Swiss roll (a cake).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Spring rolls typically have a thin, smooth, crispy wheat-based wrapper. Egg rolls (common in American Chinese cuisine) have a thicker, bumpier, doughier wrapper that contains egg. Fillings can be similar, but egg rolls are often larger.
No. While the most common international version is fried, Vietnamese cuisine features 'gỏi cuốn' or 'summer rolls', which are fresh, non-fried spring rolls made with translucent rice paper.
Yes, absolutely. Vegetable spring rolls, filled with cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, and bean sprouts, are a very common and popular option.
There's no single 'best' sauce, as it depends on regional style and preference. Common dips include sweet chili sauce, soy-based dips with garlic, peanut sauce, and nuoc cham (a Vietnamese fish sauce dip).
A cylindrical, crisp-fried Asian appetizer or snack consisting of a thin pastry wrapper filled with vegetables, and sometimes meat or seafood.
Spring roll is usually informal, neutral in register.
Spring roll: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsprɪŋ ˈrəʊl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsprɪŋ ˈroʊl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'spring' as the season of fresh vegetables, which are often inside the 'roll'.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOOD AS CULTURAL ARTIFACT; CONTAINER (the wrapper) FOR CONTENTS (the filling).
Practice
Quiz
What is a key characteristic of a traditional spring roll?