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recipe

noun
rec·​i·​pe | \ ˈre-sə-(ˌ)pē How to pronounce recipe (audio) \

Definition of recipe

1 : prescription sense 4a
2 : a set of instructions for making something from various ingredients
3 : a formula or procedure for doing or attaining something a recipe for success
Synonyms The History of Receipt and Recipe More Example Sentences Learn More about recipe

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The History of Receipt and Recipe

These days it may seem odd to speak of "grandma's cookie receipt," but at one time the only meaning of receipt was "recipe." The first recorded use of receipt is a reference to a medicinal preparation in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (c. 1386). Recipe didn't arrive until the 1500s, and it was also first used to describe medicine. Both words began to be applied to cooking only in the 18th century, after which recipe slowly became the preferred word. Receipt acquired its currently more familiar sense of "a written statement saying that money or goods have been received" in the 17th century. Both receipt and recipe are thought to be ultimately derived from Latin recipere ("to receive"), making them probable relatives as well as synonyms.

Examples of recipe in a Sentence

The recipe calls for fresh thyme. I didn't read the recipe carefully. This is one of my grandmother's recipes.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Today’s Black Bean and Corn Enchilada Casserole recipe does call for reduced-fat cheddar cheese and sour cream. Vegans and ovo-vegetarians can try a dairy-free cheddar cheese and sour cream. — Darlene Zimmerman, Detroit Free Press, "Black Bean and Corn Enchilada Casserole: Fiber rich and vegetarian," 7 Sep. 2019 There are also recipes from restaurants that don’t even exist yet. — Janelle Bitker, SFChronicle.com, "“East Bay Cooks” celebrates culinary diversity of Oakland, Berkeley and other cities," 6 Sep. 2019 There is absolutely nothing bad (save for the name) about this savory Bad Animal Tomato Tart recipe, which hails from Santa Cruz chef Todd Parker. — Amber Turpin, The Mercury News, "How to make Bad Animal’s swoon-worthy tomato tarts," 6 Sep. 2019 There are over 100 different curry rice recipes to cook with your PokĂ©mon, many of which are unique to the Galar region. — Brittany Vincent, Popular Mechanics, "There’s Never Been a Better Time to Be a Nintendo Fan Than Now," 5 Sep. 2019 This easy recipe for a vegan version of Mexican rice is loaded with veggies and beans. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Melissa Copeland’s veggie-rich Mexican rice: a meal in itself," 3 Sep. 2019 Follow along over the course of 10 episodes, and that’s 10 chances to try new cookie, pie, and cake recipes. — Annaliese Griffin, Quartzy, "Netflix won’t let you binge-watch this show’s latest season, and it’s doing you a favor," 1 Sep. 2019 Here are a few cocktail recipes that are chic and tasty enough to make our girl Meg proud. — Danielle Pointdujour, Essence, "Toast To Your Hot Girl Summer With These Easy Labor Day Cocktails," 30 Aug. 2019 Among Omega’s most frequent kveik customers is Chicago’s Burnt City Brewing, which has made about 15 recipes with the yeast. — Josh Noel, chicagotribune.com, "Kveik yeast has taken craft beer by storm. Now the world’s first kveik festival is coming to Chicago.," 29 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'recipe.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of recipe

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for recipe

Latin, take, imperative of recipere to take, receive — more at receive

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More Definitions for recipe

recipe

noun
How to pronounce recipe (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of recipe

: a set of instructions for making food
: a way of doing something that will produce a particular result

See the full definition for recipe in the English Language Learners Dictionary

recipe

noun
rec·​i·​pe | \ ˈre-sə-pē How to pronounce recipe (audio) \

Kids Definition of recipe

: a set of instructions for making something (as a food dish) by combining various things

recipe

noun
rec·​i·​pe | \ ˈres-ə-(ˌ)pē How to pronounce recipe (audio) \

Medical Definition of recipe

: prescription sense 1

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More from Merriam-Webster on recipe

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for recipe

Spanish Central: Translation of recipe

Nglish: Translation of recipe for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of recipe for Arabic Speakers

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