simmer
verb /ˈsɪmə(r)/
/ˈsɪmər/
Verb Forms
Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they simmer | /ˈsɪmə(r)/ /ˈsɪmər/ |
| he / she / it simmers | /ˈsɪməz/ /ˈsɪmərz/ |
| past simple simmered | /ˈsɪməd/ /ˈsɪmərd/ |
| past participle simmered | /ˈsɪməd/ /ˈsɪmərd/ |
| -ing form simmering | /ˈsɪmərɪŋ/ /ˈsɪmərɪŋ/ |
- [transitive, intransitive] simmer (something) to cook something by keeping it almost at boiling point; to be cooked in this way
- Simmer the sauce gently for 10 minutes.
- Leave the soup to simmer.
Collocations CookingCookingPreparing- prepare a dish/a meal/a menu/dinner/the fish
- weigh out 100g/4oz of sugar/the ingredients
- wash/rinse the lettuce/spinach/watercress
- chop/slice/dice the carrots/onions/potatoes
- peel the carrots/onion/potatoes/garlic/orange
- grate a carrot/the cheese/some nutmeg
- remove/discard the bones/seeds/skin
- blend/combine/mix (together) the flour and water/all the ingredients
- beat/whisk the cream/eggs/egg whites
- knead/shape/roll (out) the dough
- heat the oil in a frying pan
- preheat/heat the oven/(British English) the grill/(North American English) the broiler
- bring to (British English) the boil/(North American English) a boil
- stir constantly/gently with a wooden spoon
- reduce the heat
- simmer gently for 20 minutes/until reduced by half
- melt the butter/chocolate/cheese/sugar
- brown the meat for 8–20 minutes
- drain the pasta/the water from the pot/in a colander
- mash the potatoes/banana/avocado
- cook food/fish/meat/rice/pasta/a Persian dish
- bake (a loaf of) bread/a cake/(especially North American English) cookies/(British English) biscuits/a pie/potatoes/fish/scones/muffins
- boil cabbage/potatoes/an egg/water
- fry/deep-fry/stir-fry the chicken/vegetables
- grill meat/steak/chicken/sausages/a hot dog
- roast potatoes/peppers/meat/chicken/lamb
- sauté garlic/mushrooms/onions/potatoes/vegetables
- steam rice/vegetables/spinach/asparagus/dumplings
- toast bread/nuts
- microwave food/popcorn/(British English) a ready meal
- serve in a glass/on a bed of rice/with potatoes
- arrange the slices on a plate/in a layer
- carve the meat/lamb/chicken/turkey
- dress/toss a salad
- dress with/drizzle with olive oil/vinaigrette
- top with a slice of lemon/a scoop of ice cream/whipped cream/syrup
- garnish with a sprig of parsley/fresh basil leaves/lemon wedges/a slice of lime/a twist of orange
- sprinkle with salt/sugar/herbs/parsley/freshly ground black pepper
Extra ExamplesTopics Cooking and eatingc1- Turn the heat down and let it simmer for thirty minutes.
- a mixture of vegetables simmered in yogurt
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- gently
- slowly
- quietly
- …
- allow something to
- leave something to
- let something
- …
- in
- [intransitive] simmer (with something) to be filled with a strong feeling, especially anger, which you have difficulty controlling synonym seethe
- She was still simmering with resentment.
- Anger simmered inside him.
- She was still quietly simmering from her argument with Nathan.
- [intransitive] (of an argument, a disagreement, etc.) to develop for a period of time without any real anger or violence being shown
- This argument has been simmering for months.
- The simmering dispute finally erupted.
Word Originmid 17th cent.: alteration of dialect simper (in the same sense), perhaps imitative.