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

For example, take the flame retardants that are discussed in such fearful terms in the Atlantic piece “You simply do not want flame retardants anywhere near your stir-fry,” writes Zoë Schlanger, noting: “The health concerns associated with those chemicals are well established.”

From Slate

Oftentimes sitting in a nondescript bottle on tables at sushi bars and Japanese restaurants, or sometimes kept in your refrigerator for drizzling over rice or adding to a stir-fry, the ubiquitous condiment is one that can most definitely be considered an unsung hero of the culinary world.

From Salon

When you're out, this might look like choosing a vegetable-based entree, a stir-fry or ordering a side salad to have with your meal.

From Salon

As a foodie and avid stir-fry consumer, I love everything involved in wok cooking — the artistry, the bursts of orange under the deep, round-bottomed pan, the incomparable taste.

From Salon

So when I heard that an all-electric food hall on Microsoft's campus in Redmond, Washington, featured a pair of custom-made induction woks, I was eager to try out a climate-friendly stir-fry.

From Salon