wagyu
wagyu Lexical Profile
wagyu Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Highly marbled, tender beef obtained from specific breeds of Japanese cattle, renowned for its rich flavor and premium culinary quality.
"The chef prepared a perfectly seared wagyu steak, allowing the extensive fat marbling to melt and flavor the meat."
Any of four Japanese breeds of beef cattle (Black, Brown, Polled, and Shorthorn) that are genetically predisposed to intense marbling and producing a high percentage of oleic acid.
"The local agricultural university imported purebred wagyu to crossbreed with their standard Angus herd."
Word Nuance & Usage
Wagyu is often confused with Kobe beef; Kobe is a specific, strictly regulated regional variety of wagyu, meaning all Kobe is wagyu, but not all wagyu is Kobe.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Japanese 和牛 (wagyū), literally translating to 'Japanese cow', combining 'wa' (Japanese style or harmony) and 'gyū' (cow, cattle).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.