hors d'oeuvre Hear it!

hors d'oeuvre Definition

hors· d'oeuvre (ôr′dʉrv′; Fr ō̂r dë′vr')

noun pl. hors′· d'oeuvres′dʉrvz′ or hors d'oeuvredë′vr'

a small portion of a tasty food served as an appetizer before a meal or as at a cocktail party

Etymology: Fr, lit., outside of work < hors, outside (< L foris) + de, of (see de-) + oeuvre, work (< L opera, works)

hors d'oeuvre Synonyms

hors d'oeuvre

n.

appetizers, canapés, relishes, antipasto, zakuska (Russian), smörgasbord, crudités, tapas (Spanish), meze (Greek); see also appetizer, delicatessen 1.

hors d'oeuvre Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • make: These scenes made an excellent hors d'oeuvre to the main work of the evening.