Definition

Noun: A small, savory dish of food served before the main course of a meal to stimulate the appetite.

Usage

The word "hors d'oeuvre" refers specifically to a single appetizer item or a selection of such items. It is typically used in the context of formal meals, parties, or receptions. * It is often used in its plural form, "hors d'oeuvres," when referring to a variety or assortment. * It describes food meant to be eaten with the fingers or in one or two bites.

Examples

• The waiter passed a tray of delicious hors d'oeuvres.
• For the hors d'oeuvre, we are serving smoked salmon on rye toast.
• She prepared three different hors d'oeuvres for the cocktail party.

Advanced Usage

• "To be at the hors d'oeuvre stage": An informal phrase meaning to be at the very beginning of a process or event.
  • Our project is still at the hors d'oeuvre stage; we haven't gotten to the main work yet.

Variants and Related Words

• Canapé (n): A specific type of hors d'oeuvre consisting of a small piece of bread, pastry, or cracker topped with a savory food.
• Appetizer (n): A more general term for a small dish served before a meal; it can be synonymous with hors d'oeuvre but may also refer to a first course served at the table.
• Starter (n): A common British English term for an appetizer.

Synonyms

• Appetizer
• Starter
• Finger food

Antonyms

• Main course
• Entrée
• Dessert

Notes

• Etymology: The term is borrowed from French, where it literally means "outside the work" (i.e., outside the main meal).
• Pronunciation: /ˌɔːr ˈdɜːrv/ (or derv). The final 's' in the plural form is often silent in English.

Noun

1. a dish served as an appetizer before the main meal