hors d'oeuvre
Americannoun
plural
hors d'oeuvre, hors d'oeuvres-
a small bit of appetizing food, as spicy meat, fish, cheese, or a preparation of chopped or creamed foods, often served on crackers or small pieces of toast, for eating at cocktail parties or other gatherings where drinks are served with no other food.
-
an appetizer, as a relish or more elaborate preparation, served before or as the first course of a meal.
noun
Etymology
Origin of hors d'oeuvre
1705–15; < French: outside of the main course
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.
While these are elegant enough for a party hors d’oeuvre or nibble for a champagne brunch, I like the extra flair when there’s no special occasion other than sitting down to a family meal.
From Washington Post • Mar. 29, 2023
Do you need a last-minute hors d’oeuvre to accompany all that bubbly you’ve got in the fridge?
From New York Times • Dec. 31, 2022
Washington is 16 days from its season opener, but 11 days from the hors d’oeuvre …
From Seattle Times • Aug. 18, 2022
During her senate campaign party, Taissa promptly spits out a meat-filled hors d'oeuvre into her napkin once she determines its contents.
From Salon • Dec. 19, 2021
“These are delicious,” Dovie Mansfield said, finishing off another hors d’oeuvre.
From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English
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.
