ketchup

[ kech-uhp, kach- ]

See synonyms for ketchup on Thesaurus.com

noun

a condiment consisting of puréed tomatoes, onions, vinegar, sugar, spices, etc.
any of various other condiments or sauces for meat, fish, etc.: mushroom ketchup; walnut ketchup.

Origin of ketchup

First recorded in 1705–15; from Malay kəchap “fish sauce,” perhaps from dialectal Chinese kéjāp (Guangdong) or ke-tsiap (Xiamen), akin to Chinese qié “eggplant” + chī “juice”

Also cat·sup [kat-suhp, kech-uhp, kach-], /ˈkæt səp, ˈkɛtʃ əp, ˈkætʃ-/, catch·up [kach-uhp, kech-] /ˈkætʃ əp, ˈkɛtʃ-/ .

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use ketchup in a sentence

The bright yellow seeds are used in medicine as aromatic tonics and carminatives; and for curries, ketchups, soups, &c.
The Commercial Products of the Vegetable Kingdom | P. L. Simmonds
Who gwine want my clar-starchin' an' pickle-makin' an' ketchups?
Southern Lights and Shadows | Various
Ordinary ketchups do not have the proper color, and are likely to sour when heated.
Breakfast Dainties | Thomas J. Murrey
It will not keep long, but is preferable to any of the ketchups.
The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches, | Mary Eaton

British Dictionary definitions for ketchup

ketchup

catchup or catsup

/ (ˈkɛtʃəp) /

noun

any of various piquant sauces containing vinegar: tomato ketchup

Origin of ketchup

C18: from Chinese (Amoy) kōetsiap brine of pickled fish, from kōe seafood + tsiap sauce

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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