sauce

1 of 2

noun

ˈsȯs 

usually for sense 3

ˈsas 

plural sauces

1

a

: a liquid or semisolid food mixture used especially as a topping or ingredient for adding to or enhancing the flavor of a dish

pasta with tomato sauce

hot sauce

soy sauce

a cheese/cream sauce

desserts topped with chocolate sauce

b

: stewed fruit eaten with other food or as a dessert

cranberry sauce

see also applesauce

2

: something that adds zest, interest, or excitement

New experiences are the sauce of life.

3

: rude or impolite language or actions

I've had enough of your sauce!

4

the sauce slang : liquor

Stay off the sauce, especially if you're taking the antibiotic metronidazole …

—Elizabeth Goodman

see also secret sauce, special sauce

sauce

2 of 2

verb

ˈsȯs 

usually for sense 3

ˈsas 

sauced; saucing

transitive verb

1

a

: to cover or serve with a sauce

b

: to dress with relish or seasoning

2

a

archaic : to modify the harsh or unpleasant characteristics of

b

: to give zest or piquancy to

3

: to be rude or impudent to

Synonyms

Noun

• dressing
• gravy

Examples of sauce in a Sentence

Noun

She tried several sauces before she found one she liked.

chicken in a cream sauce

Cover the strawberries with the chocolate sauce.

This pizza needs more sauce.

I've had enough of your sauce!

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Chia seeds can also be used to thicken sauces or as a binding agent instead of eggs for a vegan version of a favorite recipe. —Sarah Scott, Verywell Health, 31 Mar. 2025

But the standout is the skyscraper Chocolate Cake composed of Devil’s food cake and chocolate caramel ganache drizzled with caramel sauce. —Laurie Werner, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025

Verb

Add shrimp to sauce: Cook, stirring constantly, until sauce is creamy looking and shrimp are cooked and warmed through, about 2 minutes. —Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 26 Mar. 2025

With these four tools, a home cook is able to accomplish a large swath of stovetop tasks in the kitchen: pan frying, deep frying, sautéing, boiling, braising, searing, stewing, saucing, melting, tempering, steaming, and the list goes on. —Wilder Davies, Bon Appétit, 12 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin salsa, feminine of salsus salted, from past participle of sallere to salt, from sal salt — more at salt

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sauce

• alfredo sauce
• barbecue sauce
• béarnaise sauce
• béchamel sauce
• bechamel sauce
• bordelaise sauce
• brown sauce
• chili sauce
• cocktail sauce
• duck sauce
• hard sauce
• hoisin sauce
• hot fudge sauce
• hot sauce
• Mornay sauce
• mother sauce
• Nantua sauce
• off the sauce
• on the sauce
• secret sauce
• soya sauce
• soy sauce
• special sauce
• tartare sauce
• tartar sauce
• weak sauce
• what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander
• white sauce
• Worcestershire sauce

Rhymes for sauce

• blas
• bos
• boss
• bosse
• clos
• crosse
• dos
• doss
• dross
• floss
• foss
• fosse

Kids Definition

sauce

1 of 2 noun

ˈsȯs 

1

: a thick liquid that is eaten with or on food to add flavor

a tangy pasta sauce

ice cream with chocolate sauce

2

: boiled or canned fruit

cranberry sauce

3

: rude or impolite language or actions

sauce

2 of 2 verb

sauced; saucing

1

: to add sauce to : season

2

: to be rude or impudent to