bain-marie

noun

bain-ma·​rie ˌban-mə-ˈrē How to pronounce bain-marie (audio)
ˌbaⁿ-
plural bains-marie ˌban-mə-ˈrē How to pronounce bain-marie (audio)
ˌbaⁿ-
: a cooking utensil containing heated water in which food in smaller pots is cooked compare double boiler

Examples of bain-marie in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Warriner said the bain-marie warming counters most buffets use aren’t very efficient at keeping food warm, so the longer food sits on a buffet counter, the greater the opportunity for harmful pathogens to grow. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 10 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French, translation of Medieval Latin balneum Mariae, literally, Mary's bath, after Maria Hebraea, Mary the Jewess, legendary inventor of apparatus used in alchemy

First Known Use

1723, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bain-marie was in 1723

Dictionary Entries Near bain-marie

Cite this Entry

“Bain-marie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bain-marie. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!