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Glite Dictionary
smoked salmon

smoked salmon

13 1.9
Thin cold slices of salmon that are salted and cooked over wood
  • noun
  • /smoʊkt ˈsælmən/
translation icon : salmón ahumado
  • On special occasions, we often serve smoked salmon as an appetizer with capers and lemon.
  • sliced smoked salmon
  • smoked salmon with cream cheese
  • smoked salmon and caviar

I started eating food that I wouldn't really eat a lot, like smoked salmon or kimchi.

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Examples

  • All we ever do these days is nibble a plate of smoked salmon and drink a glass of fizzy water.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • If I'm eating breakfast, which is usually on the weekends, I love a good smoked salmon scramble.

  • Quite like the traditional smoked salmon breakfast.

  • Listen, then, do you like smoked salmon?

    Another Country (1984)

  • So, I thought a day in the country... along with my famous smoked salmon would help turn things around.

    Down to You (2000)

  • Do you want cream cheese, smoked salmon?

    Back to Black (2024)

  • We have coffee and Danish, some smoked salmon.

    Bullets Over Broadway (1994)

  • Good smoked salmon and excellent vodka!

    Black Sunday (1977)

  • I started eating food that I wouldn't really eat a lot, like smoked salmon or kimchi.

    Silicon Valley Girl

  • You might try prosciutto, smoked salmon, or sushi.

    Blog text (20)

Synonyms

lox
vssmoked salmon
  • US
9 8.2

Thin slices of salty, lightly smoked salmon often served on a bagel

is cured and flavored more strongly rather than treated lightly
kippered salmon
vssmoked salmon
  • UK
1 5.1

Salmon that people salt and smoke to keep and add flavor

is cured and flavored by smoke without stressing salt curing

How Fresh

fresh catch
1 2.9
salmon
76 1.0
smoked salmon
13 1.9
kippered salmon
  • UK
1 5.1
canned goods
  • US
12 1.0

Surface Forms

smoked salmon singular
smoked salmons plural

Morphology

smoked + salmon

The meaning 'salmon that has been cured and flavored by smoking' is directly and compositionally derived from 'smoked' (cured with smoke) + 'salmon' (the fish), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the MWE meaning. This adjective + noun food description follows a common and cross-linguistically familiar pattern, making it immediately comprehensible.

Etymology

The food name smoked salmon comes from the old method of hanging salmon over a wood fire so the smoke would keep it safe to eat and give it a strong taste. That's why today smoked salmon means 'salmon that has been kept and flavored by smoke', often sliced thin and served cold.