Appetizers: Definition, Examples, and Usage

Meaning 1：starters (Appetizers)

Appetizers 🔊

/ˈæpɪtaɪzərz/

Small dishes of food served before the main meal to stimulate your appetite.

Appetizers platter on wooden table in cozy restaurant

starters 🔊

➕

/ˈstɑːrtərz/

Small dishes of food served before the main meal to stimulate the appetite.

📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'appetere' (to strive after) + suffix '-izer' (agent noun).

💡 Mnemonic

APPETIZERS make your APPETITE rise before the main course!

📖 Example

Before our main dishes arrived, we shared a platter of delicious appetizers like spring rolls and chicken wings. 🔊 Before our main dishes arrived, we shared a platter of delicious appetizers like spring rolls and chicken wings.

🔗 Collocations

appetizer platter – a large plate with various small dishes

appetizer menu – the section of a menu listing starters

appetizer selection – a choice of different starter dishes

🔄 Synonyms

starter (n.) – a small dish served before the main course

hors d'oeuvre (n.) – a small savory dish served as an appetizer

first course (n.) – the first course of a meal, often an appetizer

🚫 Antonyms

main course (n.) – the primary dish of a meal, served after appetizers

dessert (n.) – a sweet course served at the end of a meal

🌱 Derivatives

appetizing (adj.) – stimulating the appetite

appetite (n.) – a natural desire to eat

appetizer (n.) – a small dish before a meal

📖 Cultural Story

Appetizers originated from ancient Roman 'gustatio' (small starters). In modern culture, they are key in social dining, like tapas in Spain or hors d'oeuvres at parties.