truffle

(trufəl)

noun

  1. any of an order (Tuberales) of fleshy, edible, potato-shaped ascomycetous fungi that grow underground; esp., any of a European genus (Tuber) which are cultivated and regarded as a delicacy
  2. any of a number of rich chocolate candies made to resemble this in shape and color

Origin: < Fr truffe < OIt truffa < VL *trufera < Osco-Umb *tufer, for L tuber: see tuber

See truffle in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. Any of various fleshy, ascomycetous, edible fungi, chiefly of the genus Tuber, that grow underground on or near the roots of trees and are valued as a delicacy.
  2. Any of various chocolate confections, especially one made of a mixture including chopped nuts, rolled into balls and covered with cocoa powder.

Origin:

Origin: Alteration of French trufe

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Old Provençal trufa

Origin: , from Vulgar Latin *tūfera, truffles

Origin: , from dialectal variant of Latin tūber, lump; see teuə- in Indo-European roots

.

Related Forms:

  • trufˈfled adjective

Learn more about truffle

link/cite print suggestion box