ketchup
Pluralketchups (some meanings)
Verbketchups, ketchupping, ketchupped
Pluralketchups (some meanings)
Formsketchups, ketchupping, ketchupped
- 1Short 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
- 2A 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
- 3To 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
Showing meanings only.
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of ketchup apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.
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
- Ketchup probably derives ultimately from a Hokkien Chinese word meaning fish sauce. en.wiktionary.org
- The proposed borrowing route into English was through Malay. en.wikipedia.org
- The word first appeared in English in the late 1600s. en.wikipedia.org
- The early English word referred to a Southeast Asian sauce. en.wiktionary.org