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Definition of "simmer" []

  • To be cooked gently or remain just at or below the boiling point. (verb-intransitive)
  • To be filled with pent-up emotion; seethe. (verb-intransitive)
  • To be in a state of gentle ferment: thoughts simmering in the back of her mind. (verb-intransitive)
  • To cook (food) gently in a liquid just at or below the boiling point. (verb-transitive)
  • To keep (a liquid) near or just below the boiling point. See Synonyms at boil1. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "simmer" in a sentence
  • "Cook for about 15 minutes, checking every five minutes to stir and to ensure that a simmer is maintained and that liquid remains."
  • "So I set the timer for every 5 or 10 minutes until it comes to a boil, turn down the heat and check it every 5 or 10 minutes until the simmer is stabilized."
  • "Between the tender chicken and the beautiful vegetables, this soup -- a long, gentle simmer is key -- was good enough to revive the comatose."