stir-fry

[ stur-frahy ]

verb (used with object)

, stir-fried, stir-fry·ing.

1. to cook (food) quickly by cutting into small pieces and stirring constantly in a lightly oiled wok or frying pan over high heat: a common method of Chinese cooking:

   Stir-fry the shrimp until it is cooked, then add the rice and egg mixture.

noun

1. a dish of meat, vegetables, etc., that have been cooked over a high heat in a lightly oiled wok or frying pan:

   A stir-fry with chicken and vegetables is an easy weeknight meal.

adjective

1. cooked in a lightly oiled wok or frying pan over high heat; stir-fried:

   This spice blend is made to taste great on all kinds of stir-fry dishes.

stir-fry

/ ˈstɜːˈfraɪ /

verb

1. to cook (small pieces of meat, vegetables, etc) rapidly by stirring them in a wok or frying pan over a high heat: used esp for Chinese food

noun

1. a dish cooked in this way

Word History and Origins

Origin of stir-fry¹

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

They investigated by cooking three meals representing breakfast, lunch and dinner: pancakes, Brussels sprouts, and vegetable stir fry, sampling the air and exposing it to three different types of light: UV, sunlight, and fluorescent.

From Science Daily

“If I make a stir fry, I use that beef for like three or four days instead of two,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

Cook the cauliflower stir fry in the remaining oil until it's warmed through, before serving with the tempeh.

From Salon

Or sprinkle some diced nuts on top of a salad or a vegetable stir fry for dinner.

From Washington Post

And I get that others feel very attached to high-end status symbols and don’t like the thought of being forced to dial down the drama of a good stir fry.

From Washington Post