caviar

noun

cav·​i·​ar ˈka-vē-ˌär 

 also  ˈkä-

variants or less commonly caviare

1

: processed salted roe of large fish (such as sturgeon)

2

: something considered too delicate or lofty for mass appreciation

—usually used in the phrase caviar to the general

3

: something considered the best of its kind

Did you know?

The eggs, or roe, of sturgeon are called caviar. Preserved with salt, caviar is usually eaten as an appetizer. Most true caviar is produced in Russia and Iran, from fish taken from the Caspian and Black seas. The best grade, beluga, is prepared from large black or gray eggs; fresh beluga caviar is relatively scarce and thus expensive. Lesser grades are from smaller, denser eggs. In the U.S., the roe of salmon, whitefish, lumpfish, and paddlefish is sometimes sold under the name caviar.

Examples of caviar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The week included tastings of world-class caviar and wine, plus cuisine from two of Italy’s most celebrated chefs, Carlo Cracco and Norbert Niederkofler, as well as other chefs as part of Robb Report’s Culinary Masters event. —Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2024

In full, guests should expect fancy fruits, cheeses, and Doja’s favorite caviar, the opportunity to shed their own creative skin in a vanity room with a prompt from the chart-topping rapper, a moment to sign a guestbook, leaving a special message for the host, and more. —Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 1 Oct. 2024

Dabs of caviar were liberally offered alongside each dish and there were pairings with tipples such as a vodka gimlet, which calls only for a liberal dose of lime juice. —Lily Templeton, WWD, 23 Oct. 2024

Waiters served chorizo pigs in a blanket, potato pancakes with apple sauce, and salmon with caviar on corn blinis as legendary pianist Dom Salvador played on. —Elise Taylor, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

earlier cavery, caviarie, from obsolete Italian caviari, plural of caviaro, from Turkish havyar

First Known Use

circa 1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

caviar

noun

cav·​i·​ar

variants also caviare

ˈkav-ē-ˌär 

 also  ˈkäv-

: the salted eggs of a large fish (as the sturgeon) usually served as an appetizer