flour

[flou^uhr, flou-er]

noun

1. the finely ground meal of grain, especially the finer meal separated by bolting.

2. the finely ground and bolted meal of wheat, as that used in baking.

3. any finely ground meal resembling this, as of nuts or legumes: chickpea flour.

   almond flour;

   chickpea flour.

4. a finely ground, powdery foodstuff, as of dehydrated potatoes, fish, or bananas.

5. a fine, soft powder.

   flour of emery.

verb (used with object)

1. to grind (grain or the like) into flour.

2. to sprinkle or dredge with flour.

   Flour the chicken before frying.

verb (used without object)

1. (of mercury) to refuse to amalgamate with another metal because of some impurity of the metal; lie on the surface of the metal in the form of minute globules.

2. to disintegrate into minute particles.

flour

/ ˈflaʊə /

noun

1. a powder, which may be either fine or coarse, prepared by sifting and grinding the meal of a grass, esp wheat

2. any finely powdered substance

verb

1. (tr) to make (grain) into flour

2. (tr) to dredge or sprinkle (food or cooking utensils) with flour

3. (of mercury) to break into fine particles on the surface of a metal rather than amalgamating, or to produce such an effect on (a metal). The effect is caused by impurities, esp sulphur

Other Word Forms

• flourless adjective
• overflour verb
• unfloured adjective
• floury adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of flour¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English flour, flur, flower, special use of flower (in the sense “finest part”); compare French fleur de farine “the flower, or finest part, of meal”

Word History and Origins

Origin of flour¹

C13 flur finer portion of meal, _flower

Example Sentences

“It was hard to tell what they lined the field with, if it was flour or chalk,” Fouts said.

From Los Angeles Times

Scanning the spice rack, I added garlic powder, onion powder and a very, very generous crank of black pepper, and the butter thickened under the stir of a spoonful of flour.

From Salon

At times the price of flour reached above $85 for a kilo, though that figure began to reduce.

From BBC

Encased in a flour tortilla is seasoned beef crumble, sharp shredded cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes and onion and ketchup, mustard and pickled relish.

From Salon

But that food is made up of protein flour, sugar and water, and has always lacked the nutrients bees require.

From BBC

Related Words

• grate