Frizzle vs. Drizzle: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 7, 2023
Frizzle refers to frying or grilling with a sizzling sound, while Drizzle denotes light rain falling in fine drops.
Key Differences
Frizzle and Drizzle, while sounding similar, belong to entirely different spheres of meaning. Frizzle is a term that is often used in cooking. It describes the sound and action when something is fried or grilled, producing a sizzling or crackling noise. Imagine placing bacon on a hot pan; the sound that follows is what you'd associate with "frizzle."
On the other hand, Drizzle steps into the domain of weather. When it's drizzling, it's not pouring rain. Instead, it's a light, fine rain that can be almost mist-like. Drizzle is so gentle that it often doesn't even require an umbrella, but over time, it can make things quite wet.
Interestingly, the phonetic similarity between Frizzle and Drizzle makes them sound like they could be related or similar in meaning. However, their actual definitions prove otherwise. If someone says, "It's frizzling outside," they're most likely referring to the sizzling sound of food on a grill, whereas "It's drizzling outside" will have you reaching for a raincoat.
To put it in perspective, Frizzle is about the kitchen, heat, and sound. It's about food getting that perfect sear or fry. Drizzle, conversely, is about the skies, clouds, and precipitation. It's about nature giving a gentle shower to the earth.
Comparison Chart
Sphere of Meaning
Cooking
Weather
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Definition
Frying with a sizzling sound
Light rain in fine drops
Context
Often used in culinary contexts
Describes a type of precipitation
Phonetics
Sounds like it might relate to "frying"
Sounds like it might relate to "drips" or "drops"
Example Situation
Cooking bacon on a hot pan
Cloudy day with light rain
Frizzle and Drizzle Definitions
Frizzle
To cook something until crisp and curled.
Don't frizzle the vegetables; they'll lose their nutrients.
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Drizzle
A small, slow stream of a liquid.
A drizzle of honey sweetened the tea.
Frizzle
A curled or frizzed appearance, especially of hair.
Her frizzle was natural, needing no products.
Drizzle
Light rain in very fine drops.
A gentle drizzle began to fall.
Frizzle
To fry or grill with a crackling noise.
I love to frizzle bacon in the morning.
Drizzle
To pour in a fine stream.
Drizzle some olive oil over the salad.
Frizzle
To make a rustling or crackling sound.
The leaves frizzle underfoot during fall.
Drizzle
To rain lightly.
It's expected to drizzle throughout the afternoon.
Frizzle
To fry (something) until crisp and curled
Frizzled the bacon.
Drizzle
To rain gently in fine, mistlike drops.
Frizzle
To scorch or sear with heat.
Drizzle
To let fall in fine drops or particles
Drizzled melted butter over the asparagus.
Frizzle
To fry or sear with a sizzling noise.
Drizzle
To moisten with fine drops
Drizzled the asparagus with melted butter.
Frizzle
To form or cause to be formed into small tight curls; frizz.
Drizzle
A fine, gentle, misty rain.
Frizzle
A small tight curl.
Drizzle
(impersonal) To rain lightly.
We had planned a picnic for Joe's birthday, but it ended up drizzling all day.
Frizzle
(transitive) To fry something until crisp and curled.
Drizzle
(ambitransitive) To shed slowly in minute drops or particles.
Frizzle
(transitive) To scorch.
Drizzle
To pour slowly and evenly, especially oil or honey in cooking.
The recipe says to toss the salad and then drizzle olive oil on it.
Frizzle
(intransitive) To fry noisily, sizzle.
The bacon frizzled in the pan.
Drizzle
To cover by pouring in this manner.
The recipe says to toss the salad and then drizzle it in olive oil.
Frizzle
(ambitransitive) To curl or crisp, as hair; to frizz; to crinkle.
Drizzle
(slang) To urinate. en
Frizzle
A curl; a lock of hair crisped.
Drizzle
(dated) To carry out parfilage, the process of unravelling.
Frizzle
To curl or crisp, as hair; to friz; to crinkle.
Drizzle
Light rain.
Frizzle
To fry, toast, or broil with a sputtering sound to cook with a sizzling noise. Also fig.
Drizzle
Very small, numerous, and uniformly dispersed water drops, mist, or sprinkle. Unlike fog droplets, drizzle falls to the ground.
No longer pouring, the rain outside slowed down to a faint drizzle.
Frizzle
To cook, in certain way, so as to curl or crinkle up.
Drain and heat it [shaved smoked beef] in one tablespoonful of hot butter, to curl or frizzle it.
Drizzle
(slang) Water.
Stop drinking all of my drizzle!
Frizzle
A curl; a lock of hair crisped.
Drizzle
(baking) A cake onto which icing, honey or syrup has been drizzled in an artistic manner.
Frizzle
Fry something until it curls and becomes crisp
Drizzle
To rain slightly in very small drops; to fall, as water from the clouds, slowly and in fine particles; as, it drizzles; drizzling drops or rain.
Frizzle
Curl tightly;
Crimp hair
Drizzle
To shed slowly in minute drops or particles.
Frizzle
To form into small, tight curls.
She used an iron to frizzle her hair for the party.
Drizzle
A fine rain or mist.
Drizzle
Very light rain; stronger than mist but less than a shower
Drizzle
Rain lightly;
When it drizzles in summer, hiking can be pleasant
Drizzle
Moisten with fine drops;
Drizzle the meat with melted butter
Drizzle
The act of pouring liquid slowly.
With a drizzle of sauce, the dish was complete.
FAQs
Do Frizzle and Drizzle have similar meanings?
No, Frizzle relates to cooking, while Drizzle relates to light rain.
Can "frizzle" be used to describe hair?
Yes, "frizzle" can refer to tightly curled or frizzed hair.
Is "frizzle" always about food?
Mostly, but it can also refer to the appearance or sound of something crisping or curling.
Is drizzle a heavy type of rain?
No, drizzle is a light rain with very fine drops.
Can you "drizzle" a sauce?
Yes, to "drizzle" can mean to pour a liquid in a fine stream.
How is "frizzle" related to sound?
Frizzle often describes the sizzling or crackling sound of cooking.
Can "drizzle" be used in cooking?
Yes, as in "drizzle olive oil" or "a drizzle of chocolate."
How heavy is a drizzle?
Drizzle is very light, often mist-like.
Does a drizzle always make things wet?
Over time, a drizzle can wet surfaces, even if it's light.
Is "drizzle" only used for rain?
Mostly, but it can also refer to pouring a liquid slowly.
What's the origin of "frizzle"?
It's likely from the Middle English "frisel," related to "fry."
Can "drizzle" describe a flavor?
Not directly, but one can drizzle a flavorful liquid, like honey or syrup.
Can you "frizzle" vegetables?
Yes, if you're cooking them until they're crisp with a sizzling sound.
Is "frizzle" a common cooking term?
It's less common than terms like "fry" or "grill" but understood in culinary contexts.
Can "drizzle" be a noun and verb?
Yes, as in "a drizzle of honey" (noun) or "drizzle the pancakes" (verb).
Can things "frizzle up"?
Yes, it can mean things crisping or curling from heat.
Is "frizzle" related to "frizz"?
Yes, both can refer to tight curls or the state of being curly.
Which is more pleasant, a frizzle or a drizzle?
Subjective! Some love the sound of frizzling food, others the gentle touch of a drizzle.
Does "frizzle" have a modern slang meaning?
Not widely, but slang is regional and ever-evolving.
Can "drizzle" be used poetically?
Absolutely, often to describe a soft, gentle rain or action.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
