epicure
Americannoun
-
a person who cultivates a refined taste, especially in food and wine; connoisseur.
- Synonyms:
- epicurean, gourmet, gastronome
- Antonyms:
- ascetic
-
Archaic. a person dedicated to sensual enjoyment.
- Synonyms:
- gourmand, sensualist, voluptuary
noun
-
a person who cultivates a discriminating palate for the enjoyment of good food and drink; gourmet
-
a person devoted to sensual pleasures
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of epicure
1350–1400 for earlier sense; 1555–65 epicure for def. 2; Middle English Epicures, Epicureis Epicureans (plural) < Latin Epicūrēus (singular) ( see epicurean)
Explanation
We call a person who truly loves food — food at the highest levels — an epicure. Occasionally, you might find the word epicure used for a person who loves something else, but an epicure is usually someone who delights in fine food. Epicurus was the Greek philosopher whom we credit with thinking the most about cooking and food. So any time you see the word epicure, remember that that person follows the philosopher Epicurus and therefore loves food. Being an epicure ain't cheap. Most fine restaurants these days will charge you an arm and a leg for a meal good enough to satisfy a real epicure.
Vocabulary lists containing epicure
The Tragedy of Macbeth
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"Macbeth" Vocabulary from Act V
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Matilda
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Armed with a ratty copy of "Vegetarian Epicure" and scanned pages from "Living Vegetarian for Dummies," I asked my mom to take me to the local health food store to stock up.
From Salon • Mar. 3, 2022
We brought in two new high-end steak knife sets: Shun Premier and Wüsthof Epicure.
From Slate • Mar. 1, 2019
He is in turn outdone by Brent Harris, preposterously attired and delightfully over the top as Sir Epicure Mammon, who dresses in gold and craves it, too.
From New York Times • Aug. 15, 2014
This is an interesting piece of research and its findings echo those of the national Epicure study.
From BBC • Apr. 21, 2010
Who would but say Then, by the way That Woman is distressed, Who must indure An Epicure With whom she'll ne'r be blessed.
From The Ten Pleasures of Marriage and the Second Part, The Confession of the New Married Couple by Marsh, A.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
