menu

[men-yoo]

noun

1. 1. a list of the dishes that can be ordered in a restaurant or that will be served at a formal meal; bill of fare.

      Ask the waiter for a menu.

   2. the dishes themselves.

      First on the menu was a delicious broccoli soup.

2. any list or set of items, activities, etc., from which to choose.

   What's on the menu this weekend—golf, tennis, swimming?

3. Digital Technology.,  a list of options available to a user, as displayed on a screen or listed in a recorded telephone greeting.

   From the main menu at the top of the window, select Tools and then Internet Options.

verb (used with object)

1. to make available for ordering at a restaurant.

   There will be one entrée and one salad menued each day.

   Some casual restaurants have begun menuing alcoholic beverages.

menu

/ ˈmɛnjuː /

noun

1. a list of dishes served at a meal or that can be ordered in a restaurant

2. a list of options displayed on a visual display unit from which the operator selects an action to be carried out by positioning the cursor or by depressing the appropriate key

Other Word Forms

• menued adjective
• menuing noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of menu¹

First recorded in 1650–60; from French: “detailed list,” noun use of menu “small, detailed,” from Latin minūtus minute ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of menu¹

C19: from French menu small, detailed (list), from Latin minūtus _minute ²

Example Sentences

Greenspan did not respond to request for comment regarding whether any negative response contributed to his split from the company, nor regarding the future of the restaurant’s menu.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Miss Mortimer was already perusing the dessert menu.

Read more on Literature

She was holding a takeout menu from his favorite Chinese restaurant.

Read more on Literature

In anticipation of the annual holiday, we could all use some of Garten’s expert tips and tricks to whip up the perfect menus for a smooth sailing, memorable Thanksgiving celebration.

Read more on Salon

The company credits the consistency of its five-item menu that hasn’t changed since its beginning.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• card 
• cuisine 
• food 
• table