pate

¹ American  

[peyt] / peɪt /

noun

1. the crown or top of the head.

2. the head.

3. the brain.

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pâté ² American  

[pah-tey, pa‑, pah-tey, pa‑] / pɑˈteɪ, pæ‑, pɑˈteɪ, pæ‑ /

noun

plural

pâtés

1. French Cooking. a paste or spread made of puréed or finely chopped liver, meat, fish, game, etc., served as an hors d'oeuvre.

2. foie gras.

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pâte ³ American  

[paht] / pɑt /

noun

1. porcelain paste used in ceramic work.

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pâté ¹ British  

/ pɑte, ˈpæteɪ /

noun

1. a spread of very finely minced liver, poultry, etc, served usually as an hors d'oeuvre

2. a savoury pie of meat or fish

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pate ² British  

/ peɪt /

noun

1. the head, esp with reference to baldness or (in facetious use) intelligence

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Etymology

Origin of pate¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, of uncertain origin

Origin of pâté²

From French, dating back to 1695–1705; paste, -ee

Origin of pâte³

First recorded in 1860–65; from French: literally, “dough, batter, paste”; paste

Compare meaning

How does pate compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• foie gras vs. pate

Explanation

Your pate is the top of your head. But say the word with a French accent, and voila! Now it’s a savory spread made of ground meat and spices. Pâté (the food!) is sometimes served with bread or crackers. Although it’s like paste, some pates are considered a delicacy, like pâté de foie gras, the rich French dish made from goose liver, while other pates are made of different types of meat or even vegetarian ingredients. The pate you eat is usually spelled with its French accents — pâté — so you know to pronounce it with the emphasis on the final syllable, tay. A plain old pate is a jokey word for the top of the head that rhymes with fate.

Example Sentences

Shekoh Confections – Master Chocolatier Shekoh Moossavi creates hand-painted bonbons, sea-salt caramels and pate de fruits inspired by Persian heritage and French technique.

From Salon • Nov. 20, 2025

With his bald pate, dark-framed glasses and knowing demeanor, he has become one of the foremost chroniclers of the world’s media barons and Manhattan potentates.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 15, 2025

Smoked fish, pate, cured meats and some soft cheeses such as camembert and brie have been linked with listeriosis.

From BBC • Sep. 12, 2022

The splotchy purple birthmark on his bald pate made him instantly recognizable, and his vigor stood in sharp contrast to the recent run of aged and barely articulate Kremlin leaders.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 30, 2022

They nibble carrot sticks and olives, spread pate onto stone-ground wheat crackers and trade bites of goat cheese.

From "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson