umami
noun
uma·mi
| \ ü-ˈmä-mē
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Definition of umami
(Entry 1 of 2)
: the taste sensation that is produced by several amino acids and nucleotides (such as glutamate and aspartate) and has a rich or meaty flavor characteristic of cheese, cooked meat, mushrooms, soy, and ripe tomatoes : savory entry 2 sense 2
Umami is often described as a meaty flavor and is particularly strong in aged or fermented products, like cheese and wine.— Carla Ranicki
— compare bitter entry 2 sense 1b, salty entry 2 sense 1b, sour entry 2 sense 1b, sweet entry 3 sense 2
umami
adjectiveDefinition of umami (Entry 2 of 2)
: being, inducing, or marked by one of the five basic taste sensations that is typically induced by several amino acids and nucleotides (such as glutamate and aspartate) and has a rich or meaty flavor characteristic of cheese, cooked meat, mushrooms, soy, and ripe tomatoes
A crab risotto made from local crabs is powerful with the big umami flavor of brown meat.— Jay Rayner
: savory entry 1 sense e — compare bitter entry 1 sense 1a, salty entry 1 sense 1b, sour entry 1 sense 1, sweet entry 1 sense 1
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Examples of umami in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
The addition of some very good anchovies rockets this dish to a higher gear, adding a belt of umami that acts like good fish sauce in a bowl of Vietnamese bún thịt nÆ°á»›ng. — Los Angeles Times, "Review: Strong pastas and perfect ice cream at Antico — who could ask for more?," 27 Aug. 2019 Surprisingly, the category of umami has been officially recognized only since 1985. — Heloise, Washington Post, "Hints From Heloise: Clothes for class," 15 Aug. 2019 Also, key ingredients that are natural in umami are added: dried mushrooms, kelp, dried tuna and mackerel. — Liz Biro, Indianapolis Star, "One of the most ridiculous ramens ever is coming to a new ramen shop on Indy's north side," 12 June 2019 The extreme range of flavors, from piercing vinegar to salty to sweet to barely perceptible umami, isn’t easy to recreate. — Chris Morocco, Bon Appétit, "Make This Healthier Barbecue Sauce and Put It On Everything You Grill This Summer," 16 July 2019 Aside from adding umami, salt stops some of the chemical reactions and helps the rind develop. — Marc Bona, cleveland.com, "The science of cheese: Cleveland doctor making ‘amazing’ artisanal cheeses," 26 June 2019 Shrimp is also an excellent umami, protein-rich food with loads of vitamin D, vitamin B3, and zinc. — Mareya Ibrahim, NBC News, "These shrimp skewers with chimichurri are the ultimate 'cook once, eat twice' recipe," 29 June 2019 Punch Bowl Social is hosting a Father’s Day of darts, old fashioneds ($5), shareable sides like umami bomb chips and dip, and for the early risers, the Sunday Build-Your-Own Bloody Mary Bar Brunch. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "The Dish: Sunday is Father’s Day. Have you made your dinner reservations yet?," 11 June 2019 The weak acid provides a hit of umami, and brightens the dish’s flavors, making pankeki taste bigger and bolder than conventional pancakes. — Nicole Clausing, Sunset, "Japanese Pancakes Are the New, Highly Instagrammable Treat in Town," 22 Jan. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'umami.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for umami
umami
noun
uma·mi
| \ ü-ˈmä-mē
\
\
Medical Definition of umami
: a taste sensation that is meaty or savory and is produced by several amino acids and nucleotides (as aspartate, inosinate, and glutamate)