crostini

IPA/krɒsˈtiː.ni/
IPA/krɑːsˈtiː.ni/

crostini — noun

1. small pieces of toasted bread, often brushed with oil and topped with savory ing

1.nounB1
Definition

small pieces of toasted bread, often brushed with oil and topped with savory ingredients such as cheese, tomatoes, or cured meat, served as a light appetizer

Example

At the dinner party, Amelia served crostini with roasted tomatoes and fresh basil.

serve + crostini + topping ingredient

Crostini topped with goat cheese and honey are a popular starter in many Italian restaurants.

Common collocations
  • top crostini with [ingredient]
  • serve crostini as a[n] [appetizer/starter]
  • a platter of crostini
  • crostini topped with [cheese/meat/vegetables]
Synonyms
  • bruschetta

    similar Italian appetizer but uses larger bread slices, typically rubbed with garlic and topped with oil and tomatoes

  • canapé

    broader French term for small decorative appetizers that may include toasted bread bases but also crackers or pastry shells

Usage Note

Grammatically plural (from Italian). Use with plural verbs and determiners: 'these crostini are...' rather than 'this crostini is...' in standard English, though singular treatment occurs in informal contexts.

Common Mistakes

This crostini is delicious.
These crostini are delicious.
crostini is a plural noun, so use 'these' and 'are'.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Crostini, bruschetta, and canapés are all small appetizers served on bread, but they differ in size, preparation, and origin. Crostini uses thin, small slices of baguette that are toasted and topped with a variety of ingredients such as cheese, vegetables, or cured meat. Bruschetta is an Italian appetizer made with larger, thicker slices of rustic bread, which are grilled, rubbed with garlic, and typically topped with diced tomatoes, basil, and olive oil. Canapé is a broader French term for any small, decorative finger food served at parties, often on a base of bread, crackers, or pastry, with an emphasis on elegant presentation. For example, a restaurant might list 'mushroom crostini' as a simple starter, while a caterer might offer 'smoked salmon canapés' as elaborate party bites.

bruschetta ↗canapé

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • topped with
  • served with
  • a platter of

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinItalianEnglish

Crostini comes from Italian, where it is the plural of 'crostino', meaning 'little crust'. 'Crostino' is a diminutive of 'crosta' (crust), which traces back to Latin 'crusta' (hard surface, shell, crust). The word entered English along with the popularity of Italian cuisine in the 20th century.

First known use

1945

1945, in the meaning defined above