dish

American  

[dish] / dɪʃ /

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.

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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.

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.

dish British  

/ 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

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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

dish More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing dish

• dishwater
• do the dishes

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Other Word Forms

• dishlike
  adjective
• underdish
  noun

Etymology

Origin of dish

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

Explanation

A dish is something on which you serve, cook, or eat food. You need an extra large dish to make a casserole big enough to feed your entire extended family. You can use the noun dish to talk about the enamel, ceramic, metal, or plastic vessel your food is in, and you can also use it for the food itself. You might say, "This macaroni and cheese was my great aunt Mathilda's favorite dish." When you serve it, you can say that you "dish it out" — although figuratively, this also means "administer punishment."

Example Sentences

Content comes from where the ingredients are purchased, what kitchen life is like, and what happens when a dish goes wrong.

From Slate • May 3, 2026

Spring brings risi e bisi, the classic Venetian rice-and-peas dish; autumn meant bigoli con l’anatra, a spaghetti-like pasta with duck ragù.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026

The meal began with a garden herb velouté paired with a hearts of palm salad, followed by an ravioli dish featuring herbs from the White House garden.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

He’s the brainchild behind my favorite dish, the Fuhgeddaboudit pizza, which is made with pastrami, pickles and mustard.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

She carries a big dish of the spicy chicken and rice and a bowl of yogurt to the dining table.

From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan

Related Words

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