Mealy: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿฅž
Add to dictionary

mealy

 

[หˆmiหli ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

food

A meal made of flour or meal mixed with water and other ingredients, such as eggs, sugar, and fat, and baked or fried.

Synonyms

crepe, flapjack, pancake, waffle.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
mealy

Used to describe a texture that feels dry and crumbly, often for food that's past its prime or improperly cooked. It has a slightly negative connotation when describing food.

  • The apples had turned mealy after being stored for too long.
  • The cookies were mealy and not as fresh as I expected.
pancake

A flat, round cake made from batter and typically cooked on a griddle or frying pan. Commonly eaten for breakfast in many cultures.

  • Every Sunday, my family makes pancakes with blueberries.
  • The restaurant is famous for their giant, fluffy pancakes.
crepe

Refers to a very thin, delicate pancake, commonly associated with French cuisine. Ideal for sweet or savory fillings.

  • I enjoyed a delicious crepe filled with strawberries and cream for breakfast.
  • At the French restaurant, the chef made fresh crepes right in front of us.
waffle

A batter-based breakfast item cooked in a gridded iron, giving it a characteristic grid pattern and crispy texture. Often served with syrup, butter, or fruit.

  • We had waffles with whipped cream and fresh berries for brunch.
  • The hotel offers homemade waffles as part of its breakfast buffet.
flapjack

In American English, refers to a thick pancake often served for breakfast. In British English, it refers to a type of oat bar made with syrup.

  • For breakfast, we had a stack of fluffy flapjacks with maple syrup.
  • In the UK, a flapjack is a sweet oat treat, often enjoyed with tea.

Examples of usage

  • She made a delicious mealy for breakfast.
  • The mealy was served with maple syrup and fresh fruits.
Context #2 | Adjective

texture

Having a dry and grainy texture, resembling meal.

Synonyms

coarse, grainy, sandy.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
mealy

Used to describe food, especially fruits, vegetables, or grains, that have a soft, dry, and crumbly texture. This term usually has a negative connotation when referring to the quality of the food.

  • The apple was mealy and tasteless
  • The cookies turned out mealy instead of crispy
grainy

Used to describe something that has a granulated or small, gritty texture. This can apply to food, images, or materials. The term does not necessarily carry a negative meaning but can imply poor quality when used for images.

  • The picture was grainy and hard to see
  • The soup had a grainy texture because I didn't blend it well
sandy

Used to describe something that has the texture or consistency of sand, which is loose and gritty. This term can apply to soil, food, or materials and often has a neutral or slightly negative connotation.

  • The beach had a sandy shore
  • The cookies felt slightly sandy because of the sugar crystals
coarse

Used to describe textures that are rough or harsh to the touch. This can apply to materials, manners, or appearance, and often carries a negative connotation.

  • The sandpaper was coarse and scratched my skin
  • His coarse manners made him unpopular at social gatherings

Examples of usage

  • The mealy texture of the cookie was not very appealing.

Interesting Facts

Culinary Uses

  • The term often describes potatoes that have been cooked too long, leading them to be less appealing for some dishes.
  • Certain types of fruits, like ripe bananas, can also have a mealy texture when they are overripe.
  • Some fish can turn mealy when they are not fresh, affecting their taste and feel.

Etymology

  • The word comes from the Old English 'meal', referring to a fine powder or grain, which relates to the powdery texture.
  • In the 16th century, the term expanded to describe a dry and crumbly texture, especially in relation to foods.

Botanical Context

  • In gardening, the term can refer to fruits that are no longer firm and have lost their fresh, juicy quality.
  • Various plant diseases can lead to mealy textures in fruits and vegetables, indicating spoilage.

Cultural References

  • In some cultural cuisines, a mealy texture in food is considered undesirable, as it may affect the overall enjoyment of a meal.
  • Conversely, in certain dishes, a mealy texture can be purposely sought after, such as in specific traditional recipes.

Psychological Perception

  • People often associate mealy textures with food that is old or spoiled, which can lead to decreased appetite.
  • Textures in food can significantly influence taste perception and enjoyment, with mealy textures often considered less enjoyable.

Translations

Translations of the word "mealy" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น farinhento

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค†เคŸเฅ‡ เคœเฅˆเคธเคพ (aate jaisa)

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช mehlig

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ bertepung

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฑะพั€ะพัˆะฝะธัั‚ะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ mฤ…czysty

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ็ฒ‰ใฃใฝใ„ (konappoi)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท farineux

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ harinoso

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท unlu

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ฐ€๋ฃจ ๊ฐ™์€ (garu gat-eun)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฏู‚ูŠู‚

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ mouฤnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ mรบฤnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ็ฒ‰็Šถ็š„ (fฤ›n zhuร ng de)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ mokast

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ mjรถlaรฐur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ าฑะฝะดั‹

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒคแƒฅแƒ•แƒ˜แƒšแƒ˜แƒกแƒ”แƒ‘แƒ แƒ˜ (p'k'vilisebri)

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ unlu

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ harinoso

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,948, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.