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nigiri

American  
[ni-geer-ee] / nɪˈgɪər i /
Sometimes nigiri-zushi

noun

Japanese Cooking.
  1. cold boiled rice moistened with rice vinegar, shaped into bite-size pieces and topped with raw seafood.


nigiri British  
/ niːˈɡiːriː /

noun

  1. (in Japanese cuisine) a small oval block of cold rice topped with wasabi and a thin slice of fish, prawn, etc, and sometimes held together by a thin band of seaweed

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of nigiri

First recorded in 1945–50; from Japanese nigiri-zushi, literally, “hand-pressed sushi, rolled sushi,” from nigiri “a gripping or grasping, handmade rice ball,” from nigiru “to grip, grasp, roll a lump of rice in the hand” + -zushi, combining form of sushi ( def. )

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Two pieces of nigiri, typically raw fish with rice, tend to cost just under $4 at Kura Sushi, which can easily be double that at other restaurants, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

The nigiri is where Ikigai really shines, but start with the freshly grated wasabi, especially if you’ve never tried it before.

From Salon

Nigiri arrives already dressed, accompanied by specific instructions on how to enjoy it, and the fish truly melts in your mouth.

From Salon

Gen Alpha has acquired a taste for shrimp tempura and salmon nigiri—and parents are paying a heavy price.

From The Wall Street Journal

Most are reserved for the dinner hour, when diners have the time to leisurely enjoy nigiri one bite at a time.

From Salon