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ketchup

KECH-uhp/ˈkɛt͡ʃ.əp/

Pluralketchups (some meanings)

Verbketchups, ketchupping, ketchupped

3 meanings of ketchup

Practice

  1. 1
    tomato saucenoununcountableabbreviationellipsis
    Short for tomato ketchup: a thick red tomato sauce, often eaten on fries and burgers.

    He put ketchup on his fries before sitting down.

    The ketchup bottle was almost empty by lunchtime.

    UsageSay some ketchup or a bottle of ketchup.

    Note
  2. 2
    sauce (not tomato)nouncountable
    A spiced, vinegar-based sauce made from things like mushrooms, fish, or walnuts instead of tomatoes.

    Like a dark, salty sauce you spoon over cooked meat.

    The cook poured the mushroom ketchup over the roasted meat.

    To accompany meat, we prepare fruit ketchups and rhubarb chutney.
    2003, Inns and Bed and Breakfasts in Quebec 2003, Ulysses Travel GuidesHere, ketchups means sauces made with vinegar and spices, here from fruit.

    UsageSay mushroom ketchup or walnut ketchup.

    Note
  3. 3
    cover with sauceverbtransitive
    To cover food with ketchup.

    Like spreading jam on toast, but with ketchup instead.

    He ketchups his eggs every single morning.

    Don't ketchup my fries before I get to taste them.

    UsageWrite ketchupped with two p's.

    Note

Practice

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Origin

This word probably comes from a Hokkien Chinese word meaning "fish sauce," which reached English through Malay. It first appeared in English in the late 1600s for a Southeast Asian sauce.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 4 facts