Entrees

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

  1. A main dish served in a meal, especially at a formal dinner | The primary course in a multi-course meal typically following the appetizer | A substantial dish intended to be the centerpiece of dining, often offered in restaurants
  2. A primary dish that serves as the focal point of a meal, often following appetizers in a sequence of courses
  3. The main course of a formal dining experience that is generally substantial and meant to satisfy hunger

Etymology: The word entered English from French, where "entrée" originally meant "entrance" or "entry." In French culinary tradition, it referred to the dish served at the beginning of a meal, marking the transition from appetizers to the main courses. This usage dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries, when French haute cuisine developed a structured sequence of dishes, and the entrée was the first substantial course after the soup or hors d'oeuvres. When the term crossed into English, it retained this sense of an introductory dish, often a light or delicate course served before the heavier main meal. Over time, especially in American English, the meaning shifted to denote the main course itself, which diverged from the original French usage. This semantic shift likely arose from the simplification of multi-course meals in everyday dining, where the entrée became synonymous with the principal dish. The plural form "entrees" follows regular English noun pluralization, though in French the plural is "entrées" with an accent. The loss of the accent in English is typical of loanwords adapting to English orthography. The word’s journey from meaning "entry" to a specific course in a meal exemplifies how culinary terms often adapt culturally as they travel across languages and dining customs. In summary, the term’s origins lie in the concept of an entry or beginning, which transformed in the culinary world into a marker of the meal’s progression, then further evolved in English to mean the centerpiece of a meal rather than just the starting point.

Synonyms: main courses, dishes, meals, courses