pate
noun
the crown or top of the head.
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pate
1 American
[peyt]
/ peɪt /
noun
-
the crown or top of the head.
-
the head.
-
the brain.
pâté
2
American
[pah-tey, pa‑, pah-tey, pa‑]
/ pɑˈteɪ, pæ‑, pɑˈteɪ, pæ‑ /
noun
pâtés
plural
-
French Cooking. a paste or spread made of puréed or finely chopped liver, meat, fish, game, etc., served as an hors d'oeuvre.
pâte
3
American
[paht]
/ pɑt /
noun
pâté
1
British
/ pɑte, ˈpæteɪ /
noun
-
a spread of very finely minced liver, poultry, etc, served usually as an hors d'oeuvre
-
a savoury pie of meat or fish
pate
2
British
/ peɪt /
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pate1
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, of uncertain origin
Origin of pâté2
From French, dating back to 1695–1705; see origin at paste, -ee
Origin of pâte3
First recorded in 1860–65; from French: literally, “dough, batter, paste”; see origin at paste
Compare meaning
How does pate compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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.
Vocabulary lists containing pate
"The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet," Vocabulary from Act 4
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"The Tragedy of Hamlet," Vocabulary from Act 3
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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.
Singer puts it this way: Lee often baked her favorite mushroom pâté and seed bread when they lived in Brooklyn.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 25, 2024
The classic Vietnamese sandwich generally contains a trinity of pork, some crisp, fresh herbs and pickled veggies and creamy pâté.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 28, 2024
"He's super. Dynamic, young, full of ideas. Why not, for now?" said Veronique Bacchi, buying pâté with her husband.
From BBC • Jan. 12, 2024
When Noa plays along with Steve in order to survive, she’s offered a meatball in tomato sauce and a smear of grainy pâté on toast.
From New York Times • Nov. 22, 2022
In the stone cellar we uncover blankets, crates of champagne, tins of French pâté, and a folder of glossy photographs of a woman called Gloria Swanson.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
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.
