ketchup Meaning & Definition
What Does Ketchup Mean?
As a noun, ketchup means Ellipsis of tomato ketchup (“a tomato-vinegar-based sauce, sometimes containing spices, onion or garlic, and (especially in the US) sweeteners”). It is also used to mean Such a sauce more generally (not necessarily based on tomatoes, but with mushrooms, fish, etc.). This is the older meaning. As a verb, it means To cover with ketchup.
Ketchup at a Glance
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɛt͡ʃ.əp/ |
| Syllables | 2 |
| Synonyms | catsup, cetchup and tomato ketchup |
| Plural | ketchups |
| Verb forms | ketchups, ketchupping, ketchupped |
Ketchup Definition (Noun)
- Ellipsis of tomato ketchup (“a tomato-vinegar-based sauce, sometimes containing spices, onion or garlic, and (especially in the US) sweeteners”).
tomato ketchup
- Such a sauce more generally (not necessarily based on tomatoes, but with mushrooms, fish, etc.). This is the older meaning.
Ketchup as a Verb
- To cover with ketchup.
- ↑ "Ketchup", Oxford English Dictionary (online edition, 2020).
- ↑ “Is There a Difference Between Ketchup and Catsup?”, Slate, Aisha Harris, April 22, 2013
Noun
- A tomato-vinegar-based sauce, sometimes containing spices, onion or garlic, and (especially in the US) sweeteners.
- Such a sauce more generally (not necessarily based on tomatoes).
fish ketchup; fruit ketchup; mushroom ketchup
Synonyms of Ketchup
Ketchup synonyms and antonyms →Ketchup in a Sentence
tomato ketchup
This diner serves ketchup in red bottles, and mustard in yellow ones.
fish ketchup; fruit ketchup; mushroom ketchup
Word Forms & Grammar
ketchup (countable and uncountable, plural ketchups)
ketchup (third-person singular simple present ketchups, present participle ketchupping, simple past and past participle ketchupped)
Words That Rhyme With Ketchup
Origin of Ketchup
Origin 1: Uncertain, but probably ultimately from Hokkien 膎汁 (kê-chiap, “fish sauce”, literally “pickled fish juice”), via Malay kecap / kicap (“any dark clear sauce from soybeans, fish, etc.”), though the precise path is unclear – there are related words in various Chinese languages. Various other theories exist – see Ketchup: Etymology for extended discussion.
Origin 2: First appeared in English in the late 17th century in reference to a Southeast Asian sauce encountered by British traders and sailors. The Oxford English Dictionary notes that it was commonly used in the 18th century to refer to a variety of similar sauces with varying ingredients—"anchovies, mushrooms, walnuts, and oysters being particularly popular"—but by the late 19th century the current tomato ketchup became the most popular form.[1]
Origin 3: Catsup (earlier catchup) is an alternative Anglicization, still in use in the U.S., though it is now somewhat rare.
How Do You Say Ketchup?
You say ketchup as /ˈkɛt͡ʃ.əp/. It has 2 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (kɛt͡ʃ).
Questions People Ask About Ketchup
Is ketchup a noun or a verb?
Ketchup is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for ketchup?
Words with a similar meaning to ketchup include catsup, cetchup and tomato ketchup. See the full list of ketchup synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of ketchup?
The plural of ketchup is ketchups.
What is the past tense of ketchup?
The past tense of ketchup is ketchupped. The present participle is ketchupping.