The roes of the sturgeon, prepared and salted; -- used as a relish, esp. in Russia.

True caviar is the salted and matured eggs or roe of the huge female sturgeon fish, the most famous being from the Caspian Sea and processed in Russia and Iran. Beluga is the most expensive variety, followed by Oscietra and Sevruga.

KA-vee-ahr, KAH-vee-ahr] This elegant and expensive appetizer is simply sieved and lightly salted fish roe (eggs). Sturgeon roe is premium and considered the "true" caviar. The three main types of caviar are beluga, osetra and sevruga. The best (and costliest) is from the beluga sturgeon. Caviar production is a major industry for both countries. Beluga caviar is prized for its soft, extremely large (pea-size) eggs. It can range in color from pale silver-gray to black. Next in quality is the medium-sized, gray to brownish gray osetra, and the smaller, gray sevruga caviar.

salted roe of sturgeon or other large fish; usually served as an hors d'oeuvre