fry
UK: fraɪ | US: fraɪ
vt. to cook food in hot oil or fat
n. young fish, especially when newly hatched
n. (informal) a social gathering where food is fried and eaten
The word "fry" traces back to Old English frīgan, meaning "to cook in hot oil or fat." It shares roots with Old High German frītan and Latin frigere, both conveying the idea of roasting or frying. Over time, the term expanded to include the noun form referring to young fish (likely due to their small size, resembling food cooked quickly in oil). The informal sense of a fried-food gathering emerged in modern English.
She likes to fry potatoes in olive oil for breakfast.
The river is teeming with fry during spring.
We’re hosting a fish fry at the beach this weekend.
Be careful not to fry the onions too long.
The chef demonstrated how to fry tempura perfectly.