Biscuit: meaning, definitions and examples

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biscuit

[ ˈbɪskɪt ]

Noun

Oxford 3000

^{Context #1 | Noun}

sweet treat

A biscuit is a small, sweet baked good that is typically round in shape. It is often made with flour, sugar, and butter, and may include additional ingredients such as chocolate chips or nuts. Biscuits are commonly enjoyed with a cup of tea or coffee.

Synonyms

cookie, cracker, snack.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
biscuit	In American English, 'biscuit' refers to a soft, bread-like baked good that is often eaten with breakfast. They are usually buttery and can be served with gravy, butter, or jam. She served biscuits and gravy for breakfast He couldn't resist a warm biscuit straight from the oven
cookie	In American English, 'cookie' is the term for a sweet, baked treat that can be crispy or chewy. They often contain chocolate chips, nuts, or fruit and are commonly enjoyed as a snack or dessert. She baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies The children enjoyed milk and cookies after school
cracker	A 'cracker' is a thin, crispy baked product, usually savory, and often eaten with cheese or spreads. They can also be eaten on their own as a snack. He had a plate of cheese and crackers as an appetizer The soup was served with a side of crackers
snack	A 'snack' is a small portion of food typically eaten between meals. It can be sweet or savory, healthy or indulgent, and encompasses a wide variety of foods including fruits, nuts, chips, and baked goods. She packed an apple and a yogurt for her afternoon snack He grabbed a handful of nuts as a quick snack

Examples of usage

Would you like a biscuit with your tea?
She baked a batch of delicious biscuits for the party.
The bakery sells a variety of biscuits, including oatmeal and ginger snaps.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

British English

In British English, a biscuit refers to a small, sweet baked good similar to what Americans would call a cookie. Biscuits are often served with tea and may be enjoyed plain or with toppings such as jam or cream.

Synonyms

cookie, cracker, snack.

Examples of usage

My favorite British biscuit is the chocolate digestive.
She offered me a custard cream biscuit with my afternoon tea.

^{Context #3 | Noun}

Southern United States

In the Southern United States, a biscuit is a type of bread that is typically made with flour, buttermilk, and shortening. Biscuits are often fluffy and light, and are commonly served with gravy or as a side dish with fried chicken.

Synonyms

bread roll, bun, scone.

Examples of usage

I love eating biscuits and gravy for breakfast.
Would you like a biscuit with your fried chicken?

Translations

Translations of the word "biscuit" in other languages:

🇵🇹 biscoito

🇮🇳 बिस्कुट

🇩🇪 Keks

🇮🇩 biskuit

🇺🇦 печиво

🇵🇱 ciastko

🇯🇵 ビスケット

🇫🇷 biscuit

🇪🇸 galleta

🇹🇷 bisküvi

🇰🇷 비스킷

🇸🇦 بسكويت

🇨🇿 sušenka

🇸🇰 sušienka

🇨🇳 饼干

🇸🇮 piškot

🇮🇸 smákaka

🇰🇿 печенье

🇬🇪 ბისკვიტი

🇦🇿 peçenye

🇲🇽 galleta

Etymology

The word 'biscuit' originated from the Latin word 'bis coctus', which means 'twice baked'. This term was used to describe a type of baked good that was first baked and then baked again to create a dry and hard texture, similar to modern-day biscotti. Over time, the term evolved to refer to a variety of baked goods, including the sweet treats we know today as biscuits.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #15,976, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.

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15973 shave
15974 scramble
15975 constricted
15976 biscuit
15977 quartered
15978 twig
15979 synchronized
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