|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
truffle
truffle [Fr.], subterranean edible fungus that forms a mutually beneficial (symbiotic) relationship with the roots of certain trees and plants. The part of the fungus used as food is the ascoma, the fruiting body of the fungus. The best-known truffles are the black, Tuber melanosporum, and the white, T. magnatum, both found chiefly in W Europe. Their flavor is piquant and aromatic, and they have been esteemed as a delicacy from ancient times; recipes for their use are found in Greek and Roman writings. The truffles found in the forests of Périgord, France, have been highly regarded since the 15th cent., and their collection is an important industry. Some are canned for export. Traditionally hunted with pigs, they are now mainly found by dogs, which can be trained to "point" for truffles and have the distinct advantage of not being truffle eaters. Truffle cultivation has had some success; it requires the inoculation of the roots of a host plant seedling with fungal spores. T. indicum, a black truffle exported from China, is regarded as inferior to T. melanosporum.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"truffle." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "truffle." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-truffle.html "truffle." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-truffle.html |
|
truffle
truf·fle / ˈtrəfəl/ • n. 1. a strong-smelling underground fungus (Tuber and other genera, family Tuberaceae) that resembles an irregular, rough-skinned potato, growing chiefly in broad-leaved woodland on calcareous soils. It is considered a culinary delicacy and found, esp. in France, with the aid of trained dogs or pigs. 2. a soft candy made of a chocolate mixture, typically flavored with rum and covered with cocoa. |
|
|
Cite this article
"truffle." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "truffle." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-truffle.html "truffle." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-truffle.html |
|
truffle
truffle The underground fruit body of certain species Tuber. Truffles are edible and highly esteemed. T. aestivum (summer truffle) is 2–8 cm in diameter and has a dark brown, warty surface. The inside is greyish with a network of white veins. It is occasionally found in England in the soil of beech woods. T. melanosporum (the black or Périgord truffle) occurs in S. Europe and resembles T. aestivum but is rather smaller (1–3 cm).
|
|
|
Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "truffle." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "truffle." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-truffle.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "truffle." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-truffle.html |
|
truffle
truffle Any of several species of ascomycete fungi that grow underground, often among tree roots. Most are edible and are highly prized delicacies. Found in Europe, particularly France, and in parts of the USA, they are hunted with trained pigs and dogs that can scent them out. Family Tuberaceae. See also fungus
|
|
|
Cite this article
"truffle." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "truffle." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-truffle.html "truffle." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-truffle.html |
|
truffle
truffle XVI. prob. — Du. truffel, †truffele — F. truffle (now truffe), perh. to be referred ult. to popL. *tūfera, for L. tūbera, pl. of tūber TUBER.
|
|
|
Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "truffle." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "truffle." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-truffle.html T. F. HOAD. "truffle." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-truffle.html |
|
truffle
truffle
•baffle, raffle, snaffle
•falafel
•piffle, riffle, skiffle, sniffle, whiffle
•nymphal • apocryphal
•Eiffel, rifle, stifle, trifle
•coffle, offal, waffle
•duffel, kerfuffle, muffle, ruffle, scuffle, shuffle, snuffle, truffle
•triumphal
|
|
|
Cite this article
"truffle." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "truffle." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-truffle.html "truffle." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-truffle.html |
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
![[E,F] Truffle hunting - the...](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/pl5326KuGBc/0.jpg "[E,F] Truffle hunting - the...")
