dish

[dish]

noun

1. an open, relatively shallow container of pottery, glass, metal, wood, etc., used for various purposes, especially for holding or serving food.

2. any container used at table.

   dirty dishes.

3. the food served or contained in a dish.

   The meal consisted of several dishes.

4. a particular article, type, or preparation of food.

   Rice is an inexpensive dish.

5. the quantity held by a dish; dishful.

   a dish of applesauce.

6. anything like a dish in form or use.

7. concavity or the degree of concavity, as of a wheel.

8. Also called dish antenna. a concave, dish-shaped reflector serving to focus electromagnetic energy as part of a transmitter or receiver of radio, television, or microwave signals.

9. Slang.,  an attractive person, especially a female.

   His wife is quite a dish.

10. Slang.,  an item of gossip.

verb (used with object)

1. to put into or serve in a dish, as food.

   to dish food onto plates.

2. to fashion like a dish; make concave.

3. Slang.,  to gossip about.

   They talked all night, dishing their former friends.

4. Slang.,  to defeat; frustrate; cheat.

verb (used without object)

1. Slang.,  to talk together informally, especially, to gossip.

verb phrase

1. dish out

   1. to serve (food) from a serving dish, pot, etc.

   2. to deal out; distribute.

      She dished out our pay in silver dollars.

dish

/ dɪʃ /

noun

1. a container used for holding or serving food, esp an open shallow container of pottery, glass, etc

2. the food that is served or contained in a dish

3. a particular article or preparation of food

   a local fish dish

4. Also called: dishful. the amount contained in a dish

5. something resembling a dish, esp in shape

6. a concavity or depression

7. short for dish aerial satellite dish aerial

8. informal,  an attractive person

9. informal,  something that one particularly enjoys or excels in

verb

1. to put into a dish

2. to make hollow or concave

3. informal,  to ruin or spoil

   he dished his chances of getting the job

Other Word Forms

• underdish noun
• dishlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dish¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English disc dish, plate, bowl (akin to German Tisch table) < Latin discus dish, discus

Word History and Origins

Origin of dish¹

Old English disc, from Latin discus quoit, see _disc

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. dish it out, to dispense abusive language, punishment, or praise, enthusiastic approval, etc..

   When it comes to flattery, he can really dish it out.

More idioms and phrases containing dish

• dishwater
• do the dishes

Example Sentences

My culinary reward came at Veera Flavors, which offered the tastiest thali—a tin tray piled high with vegetable dishes, rice, yogurt and pickles—outside of Chennai.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Throughout the series, the palace tasks Yeon with crafting dishes to convey various intangible themes – often with her own life or the country’s future on the line.

Read more on Salon

I started my tour of Puglia’s pasta dishes in the coastal city of Bari, Puglia’s capital and lone metropolis.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

This is coming from someone who never had it until recently, and only out of my loyalty to testing the dishes that I write about and, well, “The Bear.”

Read more on Salon

Doncic had his quietest scoring quarter in the third with only six points, but he dished four assists as Reaves and Hachimura exploded for 11 and 12 points, respectively.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bowl 
• container 
• cup 
• plate 
• platter 
• pot 
• tray