roux

[ roo ]

noun

1. a cooked mixture of butter or other fat and flour used to thicken sauces, soups, etc.

roux

/ ruː /

noun

1. a mixture of equal amounts of fat and flour, heated, blended, and used as a basis for sauces

Roux

/ ro̅o̅ /

1. French bacteriologist who assisted Louis Pasteur on most of his major discoveries. Later, working with Alexandre Yersin, he showed that the symptoms of diphtheria are caused by a lethal toxin produced by the diphtheria bacillus. Roux carried out early work on the rabies vaccine and directed the first tests of the diphtheria antitoxin.

Word History and Origins

Origin of roux¹

1805–15; < French ( beurre ) roux brown (butter) < Latin russus red-brown, red-haired, akin to ruber red ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of roux¹

C19: from French: brownish, from Latin russus russet

Example Sentences

I opened the door to their house and smelled the popcorn-like scent of my uncle preparing a roux.

From FiveThirtyEight

Here, I use shiitakes, which I love for their umami and aromatic notes of the forest floor, and a roux made from half-and-half.

From Eater

Add the flour and cook for 2 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon to form a roux.

From Eater

I want to practice dumpling folding techniques and make a roux.

From Eater

Cooking the roux, and letting it toast, will deepen the flavor and color of your finished gravy.

From Washington Post

If the proposal is granted, Roux will most likely wrap up his examination on May 16.

From The Daily Beast

It was there that she learned every basic kitchen task, from chopping to making roux and stocks.

From The Daily Beast

Add the flour and stirring constantly with a large wooden spoon, make a dark-chocolate-brown roux, 30 to 35 minutes.

From The Daily Beast

They both rely on thick, flour-based roux, bell peppers, garlic, celery, onions, and chiles.

From The Daily Beast

Crawfish etouffée is made with dark Cajun roux, which thickens the liquid that “smothers” the crawfish.

From The Daily Beast

In fact, the phrase seems to have been a common proverb; see Le Roux de Lincy, ii.

From Project Gutenberg

She seemed to try and avoid conversation with him; and it squared with the fact of Gideon Roux being from home.

From Project Gutenberg

The misgiving expressed by Gideon Roux as to the potential liberality of his spouse in the matter of the grog was not unfounded.

From Project Gutenberg

This is the case for the frogs egg as Roux showed in a classical experiment.

From Project Gutenberg

I was lying on the straw with the others, when General Roux arrived there.

From Project Gutenberg