relish

[rel-ish]

noun

1. liking or enjoyment of the taste of something.

   Synonyms: zest, gusto
   Antonyms: disfavor, distaste

2. pleasurable appreciation of anything; liking.

   He has no relish for obscene jokes.

   Synonyms: preference, predilection, partiality, inclination, zest, gusto
   Antonyms: disfavor, distaste

3. Cooking.

   1. something savory or appetizing added to a meal, as pickles or olives.

   2. a sweet pickle made of various vegetables, usually chopped or minced.

   3. an appetizer or hors d'oeuvre.

   Synonyms: appetizer, condiment

4. a pleasing or appetizing flavor.

5. a pleasing or enjoyable quality.

6. a taste or flavor.

   Synonyms: savor

7. a smack, trace, or touch of something.

verb (used with object)

1. to take pleasure in; like; enjoy.

   I don't relish the long drive home.

   Synonyms: appreciate

2. to make pleasing to the taste.

3. to like the taste of.

verb (used without object)

1. to have taste or flavor.

2. to be agreeable.

relish

/ ˈrɛlɪʃ /

verb

1. to savour or enjoy (an experience) to the full

2. to anticipate eagerly; look forward to

3. to enjoy the taste or flavour of (food, etc); savour

4. to give appetizing taste or flavour to (food), by or as if by the addition of pickles or spices

noun

1. liking or enjoyment, as of something eaten or experienced (esp in the phrase with relish )

2. pleasurable anticipation

   he didn't have much relish for the idea

3. an appetizing or spicy food added to a main dish to enhance its flavour

4. an appetizing taste or flavour

5. a zestful trace or touch

   there was a certain relish in all his writing

6. music (in English lute, viol, and keyboard music of the 16th and 17th centuries) a trilling ornament, used esp at cadences

Other Word Forms

• relishable adjective
• relishingly adverb
• self-relish noun
• unrelishable adjective
• unrelished adjective
• unrelishing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of relish¹

First recorded in 1520–30; alteration of Middle English reles “aftertaste, scent,” from Old French, variant of relais “remainder, that left behind”; release

Word History and Origins

Origin of relish¹

C16: from earlier reles aftertaste, from Old French: something remaining, from relaisser to leave behind; see _release

Example Sentences

Ms. Lakshmi serves it on a bed of traditional Southern cheesy grits and suggests chowchow pickles, an old-time relish, as a side.

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“Milan is happening,” said Ross, 63, a retired Walt Disney Studios chairman and Discovery Channel president, who relishes the walkable city’s restaurants and emerging art scene.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But the spotlight was still largely her husband’s to relish.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But “Venetian Vespers” is more entertaining than sobering; a stylish escapade that even Henry James might relish.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Home players will do whatever they can to pump up the crowd, while the visiting side always relishes any opportunity to hit back.

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Related Words

• admire 
• cherish 
• delight in www.thesaurus.com
• enjoy 
• go for 
• prefer 
• revel in www.thesaurus.com
• savor