entrée
/ˈɒn.treɪ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɑːn.treɪ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈän-ˌtrā also än-ˈtrā/ (ame, mw)
entrée — noun
- entréesingular
- entréesplural
1. the largest prepared dish served as the central part of a meal, especially in No
the largest prepared dish served as the central part of a meal, especially in North American restaurant use.
Asher ordered the grilled fish entrée after reading the lunch specials.
restaurant pattern: order an entrée
Saira asked whether the vegetarian entrée came with rice or bread.
menu collocation: vegetarian entrée
At the wedding, Christopher saved room for the duck entrée.
The waiter replaced Roya's cold entrée before the rest of dinner arrived.
- main course
the broad neutral term used across more varieties of English
- main dish
plain everyday wording that focuses on the meal role
- appetizer
a smaller dish eaten before the main part of the meal
文法句型
order an entrée
the fish entrée
a vegetarian entrée
用法筆記
In modern North American restaurant English, this is the usual meaning. Distinguish it from sense 2, the older formal-meal use for a smaller course that appears earlier.
常見錯誤
2. in a formal meal with several courses, a light plate brought out ahead of the ce
in a formal meal with several courses, a light plate brought out ahead of the central course.
At the embassy dinner, guests received a chilled seafood entrée before the roast.
formal-menu sequence: entrée before the roast
The menu listed a mushroom entrée, then lamb with spring peas.
course order shown by menu listing
Paloma admired the silver tray used to carry the delicate entrée.
In the old cookbook, the entrée appeared between soup and fish.
- main course
the larger later dish that follows this course
文法句型
serve the entrée
a chilled entrée
the entrée before the roast
用法筆記
This is an older formal-menu meaning. Distinguish it from sense 1: on many modern North American menus, entrée now refers to the main dish instead of this earlier course.
常見錯誤
3. permission or a recognised way to get into a place or become part of a group.
permission or a recognised way to get into a place or become part of a group.
Maeve's press pass gave her entrée to the locked media room.
pattern: entrée to + place
Years of volunteer work finally earned Femi entrée into the committee.
pattern: earn entrée into + group
Money alone did not guarantee entrée to the city's oldest club.
The award gave Gabriela entrée into circles she once watched from afar.
- exclusion
being kept out of a place, group, or opportunity
文法句型
entrée to a club
entrée into the committee
gain entrée to
用法筆記
Usually followed by to or into. It often refers to social, professional, or restricted access rather than simply walking through a doorway. Distinguish it from sense 4, which is about the act or style of arriving.
常見錯誤
4. a person's arrival, or the way that arrival is timed and presented.
a person's arrival, or the way that arrival is timed and presented.
The dancers' silent entrée set the mood for the whole performance.
performance use: an entrance that sets the mood
Nikos timed his entrée so the speech would not be interrupted.
formal-arrival use: time one's entrée
The general's dramatic entrée drew every eye in the hall.
The stage manager delayed the actor's entrée until the music softened.
- exit
the act of going out rather than coming in
文法句型
make an entrée
a dramatic entrée
delay someone's entrée
用法筆記
Often found in formal writing or theatre-related contexts. Distinguish it from sense 3: this sense describes the act or manner of appearing, not the right to be let in.