soufflé

1 of 2

noun

souf·​flé sü-ˈflā How to pronounce soufflé (audio)
ˈsü-ˌflā
: a dish that is made from a sauce, egg yolks, beaten egg whites, and a flavoring or purée (as of seafood, fruit, or vegetables) and baked until puffed up

soufflé

2 of 2

adjective

variants or souffléed
sü-ˈflād How to pronounce soufflé (audio)
ˈsü-ˌflād
: puffed up by or in cooking

Examples of soufflé in a Sentence

Noun a serving of chocolate soufflé
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
At Café Jirisan, in the Second Arrondissement, one of Paris’s many Asian coffee shops, lines of people wait outside for souffle cheesecakes and matcha lattes. — Vivian Song, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, from soufflé, past participle of souffler to blow, puff up, from Old French sufler, from Latin sufflare, from sub- + flare to blow — more at blow

First Known Use

Noun

1813, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1824, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of soufflé was in 1813

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soufflé
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Cite this Entry

“Soufflé.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/souffl%C3%A9. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

soufflé

1 of 2 noun
souf·​flé sü-ˈflā How to pronounce soufflé (audio)
ˈsü-ˌflā
: a delicate spongy hot dish lightened in baking by stiffly beaten egg whites
cheese soufflé

soufflé

2 of 2 adjective
variants or souffléed
-ˈflād How to pronounce soufflé (audio)
-ˌflād
: puffed by or in cooking
soufflé omelet
Etymology

Noun

derived from French soufflé, past participle of souffler "to blow up, inflate"

Medical Definition

souffle

noun
souf·​fle ˈsü-fəl How to pronounce souffle (audio)
: a blowing sound heard on auscultation
the uterine souffle heard in pregnancy
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