Definition of "savory" in English

adjective

1. Tasty, attractive to the palate.

   • The fine restaurant presented an array of savory dishes; each was delicious.

2. Either salty or spicy, but not sweet.

   • The mushrooms, meat, bread, rice, peanuts and potatoes were all good savory foods.

3. Umami.

   • The savory rabbit soup contrasted well with the sweet cucumber sandwiches with jam.

4. (figuratively) Morally or ethically acceptable.

   • Readers are to be warned that quotations in this chapter contain some not so savory language.

noun

1. (American spelling) A savory snack.

noun

1. Any of several Mediterranean herbs, of the genus Satureja, grown as culinary flavourings.

2. The leaves of these plants used as a flavouring.