I. (ˈ)sü|flā noun
( -s )
Etymology: French, from soufflé, adjective, puffed, from past participle of souffler to blow, blow up, puff up, from Latin sufflare — more at sufflate
1. : an entrée or a dessert made with a white sauce, egg yolks and stiffly whipped egg whites, seasonings, and added ingredients (as tuna, cheese, chocolate) baked until puffed
cheese soufflé
— compare mousse
2. : something (as an artistic creation) having a light delicate mixture
happy endings and her soufflé of fairies and folklore — Time
3. : a thin or sheer fabric made with large puffed designs and used for women's dresses
II. transitive verb
( souffléed ; souffléed ; souffléing ; soufflés )
: to cause (food) to puff up in cooking
III. adjective
Etymology: French, from past participle of souffler to blow
1. of pottery : decorated with very small drops or sprinkles of color as if blown from a bellows
2. or souf·fléed -ād
[ souffléed from soufflé (I) + -ed ]
: puffed by or in cooking
soufflé omelette
soufflé crackers
soufflé mashed potato