Definition

1. Noun:
   • A shop selling ready-to-eat food products: A delicatessen is a retail store that sells a variety of high-quality, prepared foods, such as cooked meats, cheeses, salads, and sandwiches.
   • Ready-to-eat food products: The term can also refer to the prepared foods themselves that are sold in such a shop.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Shop):
  • I bought some fresh pasta salad from the local delicatessen.
  • The new delicatessen on Main Street has an excellent selection of imported cheeses.
• Noun (Food Products):
  • The party platter was filled with a variety of delicatessen.
  • She prefers to buy her lunch from the delicatessen counter at the grocery store.

Advanced Usage

• "Delicatessen counter": A specific section within a larger store, such as a supermarket, where prepared foods are sold.
  • You can order sliced meat at the delicatessen counter.

Variants and Related Words

• Delicatessen food: Prepared food of the type sold in a delicatessen.
  • The supermarket's delicatessen food is very popular.
• Delicatessen-style: Made or served in the manner typical of a delicatessen.
  • They serve delicatessen-style sandwiches on rye bread.

Synonyms

• Deli (noun): A common, informal shortening of "delicatessen."
  • Let's grab a sandwich from the deli.
• Gourmet shop (noun): A shop specializing in high-quality, often exotic, foods.
• Charcuterie (noun): A branch of cooking devoted to prepared meat products, often sold in a delicatessen.

Related Phrases

• "Cold cuts from the delicatessen": Slices of cold, cooked meats purchased from a deli.
  • He made sandwiches with cold cuts from the delicatessen.

Noun

1. a shop selling ready-to-eat food products
2. ready-to-eat food products