à la carte

[ ah luh kahrt, al-uh; French a la kart ]

adjective

1. with a separate price for each dish offered on the menu: Compare prix fixe, table d'hôte.

   dinner à la carte.

2. with a separate price for each item on a list:

   Spa treatments can be booked à la carte, or you can choose one of our packages.

à la carte

/ a la kart; æ lə; ɑː lɑː ˈkɑːt /

adjective

1. See table d'hôte
   (of a menu or a section of a menu) having dishes listed separately and individually priced Compare table d'hôte
2. (of a dish) offered on such a menu; not part of a set meal

Word History and Origins

Origin of à la carte¹

First recorded in 1815–20; from French: literally, “according to the menu”; carte

Word History and Origins

Origin of à la carte¹

C19: from French, literally: according to the card