How Do You Spell SHORTENING?

Pronunciation: [ʃˈɔːtənɪŋ] (IPA)

The word "shortening" is spelled with the IPA phonetic transcription /ˈʃɔrtənɪŋ/. The first syllable, "short," is pronounced with a short "o" sound /ɔ/, followed by the consonant cluster "rt" pronounced with a schwa sound /ə/. The second syllable, "en," is pronounced with the schwa sound /ə/, and the final syllable, "ing," is pronounced with a voiced nasal consonant /n/ and a hard "g" sound /ɪŋ/. Overall, the word is pronounced as "SHOR-tə-ning."

SHORTENING Meaning and Definition

  1. Shortening refers to a type of fat that is solid at room temperature and is often used in baking and cooking to add texture, moistness, and improve the flavor of food. Primarily made from vegetable oils, it undergoes a process known as hydrogenation, which involves converting liquid oil into a semisolid or solid fat by adding hydrogen molecules. The hydrogenation process increases the stability and shelf life of the product, making it more resistant to spoilage.

    Typically white or off-white in color, shortening has a smooth and creamy consistency and a mild flavor that is relatively neutral. It is commonly used in various baked goods such as cakes, cookies, and pastries as it helps create a tender and flaky texture. Additionally, shortening can be employed in frying, as it has a high smoke point, meaning it can withstand higher cooking temperatures without breaking down or producing smoke.

    Trusted by chefs and bakers, shortening acts as a substitute for butter, margarine, or lard in recipes. It is often preferred in certain applications due to its ability to create a lighter and more delicate texture in baked goods. However, it is important to note that shortening is high in saturated fats, which are known to increase cholesterol levels when consumed in excess. Therefore, moderation is key when incorporating shortening into a balanced diet.

  2. A making short or shorter; anything used, as butter or lard, to make pastry crisp.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for SHORTENING *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for SHORTENING

Etymology of SHORTENING

The word "shortening" comes from the verb "shorten", which dates back to Middle English. The term originally referred to the process of making something shorter or reducing its length. Over time, it began to specifically relate to the process of reducing the length of the fibers in materials like wool or cotton to make them more manageable or easier to work with. Eventually, "shortening" also came to refer to the act of reducing the length of cooking or baking ingredients, particularly fats, to produce a more desirable texture in the end product. Thus, the term "shortening" is used to describe both the substance itself and the process of making dough or batter more tender by incorporating fats.

Similar spelling words for SHORTENING

Plural form of SHORTENING is SHORTENINGS

Conjugate verb Shortening

CONDITIONAL

I would shorten
we would shorten
you would shorten
he/she/it would shorten
they would shorten

FUTURE

I will shorten
we will shorten
you will shorten
he/she/it will shorten
they will shorten

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have shortened
we will have shortened
you will have shortened
he/she/it will have shortened
they will have shortened

PAST

I shortened
we shortened
you shortened
he/she/it shortened
they shortened

PAST PERFECT

I had shortened
we had shortened
you had shortened
he/she/it had shortened
they had shortened

PRESENT

I shorten
we shorten
you shorten
he/she/it shortens
they shorten

PRESENT PERFECT

I have shortened
we have shortened
you have shortened
he/she/it has shortened
they have shortened
I am shortening
we are shortening
you are shortening
he/she/it is shortening
they are shortening
I was shortening
we were shortening
you were shortening
he/she/it was shortening
they were shortening
I will be shortening
we will be shortening
you will be shortening
he/she/it will be shortening
they will be shortening
I have been shortening
we have been shortening
you have been shortening
he/she/it has been shortening
they have been shortening
I had been shortening
we had been shortening
you had been shortening
he/she/it had been shortening
they had been shortening
I will have been shortening
we will have been shortening
you will have been shortening
he/she/it will have been shortening
they will have been shortening
I would have shortened
we would have shortened
you would have shortened
he/she/it would have shortened
they would have shortened
I would be shortening
we would be shortening
you would be shortening
he/she/it would be shortening
they would be shortening
I would have been shortening
we would have been shortening
you would have been shortening
he/she/it would have been shortening
they would have been shortening

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