food processor

IPA/ˈfuːd prəʊsesə(r)/
IPA/ˈfuːd prɑːsesər/

food processor — noun

1. an electric kitchen tool with a spinning blade inside a sealed container, used t

1.nounB1
Definition

an electric kitchen tool with a spinning blade inside a sealed container, used to chop, shred, purée, and blend food quickly

Example

Chiara used the food processor to chop onions for the spaghetti sauce.

food processor + to-infinitive: 'to chop [ingredient]'

The food processor whirred loudly as it turned carrots into a smooth purée.

inanimate subject with sensory detail: 'whirred loudly'

Common collocations
  • use a food processor
  • pulse in a food processor
  • food processor blade
  • food processor bowl
  • food processor attachment
Synonyms
  • blender

    a blender is designed for liquids and smoothies, not for chopping dry or solid foods

  • mixer

    a mixer typically uses beaters or a whisk for baking; a food processor uses spinning blades

  • chopper

    a chopper is usually smaller, manual or electric, and only chops — it cannot purée or knead

Usage Note

A food processor is different from a blender: food processors have wider, flatter blades and are designed for chopping and mixing solid foods; blenders have smaller blades at the bottom and work best with liquids and smoothies.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A food processor, blender, mixer, and chopper are all electric kitchen tools, but they serve different purposes. A food processor uses wide, flat, interchangeable blades to chop solid ingredients, purée vegetables, and even knead dough — it is the most versatile of the four. A blender has fixed blades at the bottom of a tall jug and is best for liquids: smoothies, soups, and sauces. A mixer uses beaters or a whisk attachment and is the go-to for baking — creaming butter, whipping cream, and mixing cake batter. A chopper is the simplest: a small device, sometimes manual, that only chops or minces ingredients like onions and garlic, without the puréeing or kneading power of a food processor. If you need to make chunky salsa, use a food processor; if you want a silky mango lassi, reach for a blender.

blender ↗mixerchopper ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • food processor blade
  • food processor bowl
  • food processor attachment

Phrases

  • pulse in a food processor

Prepositions

  • in a food processor
  • with a food processor

Etymology

FrenchEnglish

The term 'food processor' combines food and processor ('one that processes'). It entered English in the early 1970s when the French company Robot-Coupe introduced a compact kitchen machine for commercial use. The American engineer Carl Sontheimer adapted the design for home kitchens and launched it under the brand Cuisinart in 1973, making the term 'food processor' a household name.

First known use

1973

1973, in the meaning defined above