Restaurant Vocabulary

Dessert is a sweet course typically served at the end of a meal. It is often made with sugar, chocolate, fruit, or dairy, and contrasts with the main course by its lighter, indulgent flavor. The term refers to edible treats intended to finish dining on a pleasant, memorable note.

Dice is the plural form of die, used to refer to small cubic gaming cubes with faces numbered 1–6. In everyday language, dice can also mean a single die. The term appears in gambling, gaming, and probability contexts, and is often encountered in both singular and plural forms, though dice is typically used for multiple units.

Entrée is a noun borrowed from French meaning the main course of a meal. In American usage, it refers to the dish that comes after the hors d'oeuvre and before dessert; in some contexts it also designates the dish itself as the main course. The term can be used more broadly to indicate entry or introduction in certain contexts, though that sense is less common in everyday dining language.

Fish is a short, single-syllable noun referring to aquatic vertebrates that live in water and are often used as a food source. It denotes creatures of genus Pisces, characterized by gills, fins, and a streamlined body. In everyday speech, it also appears in phrases like 'fish for information' and 'red herring,' broadening its metaphorical uses beyond the animal.

Foam (noun) refers to a light, bubbly mass formed by gas pockets in a liquid or by agitation. It is typically white or pale in color and has a frothy, airy texture. Common in beverages, soaps, and surfactant foams, it can also describe any frothy layer atop a liquid. The term emphasizes texture and appearance as well as the process that creates it.

Garlic is a bulbous plant whose pungent, spicy cloves are used whole, minced, or roasted to flavor food. It is commonly cultivated for culinary and medicinal purposes. The word refers to both the plant and its edible segments, which release a strong aroma when crushed or chopped.

Glass is a hard, brittle substance formed from silica and other additives, used for windows, containers, and art. It is typically transparent or translucent and can be molded or blown into various shapes. The term also refers to a drinking vessel made of this material, and in metaphorical use it denotes a fragile barrier or a mirror-like surface.

Grater (noun) refers to a kitchen tool with sharp-edged perforations used to shred foods, especially cheese or vegetables. It denotes both the device and, in some contexts, the action or result of grating. The term emphasizes the instrument’s function and its tactile, repetitive use in food preparation.

Grill (noun): A device or structure for cooking food over direct heat, typically featuring a grate. It can also refer to a barred protective frame or the upper edge of a furnace. In conversation, “grill” often conveys the act of cooking or the apparatus used in outdoor culinary settings, sometimes metaphorically implying a rigorous interrogation when used as a verb in other contexts.

Grinder is a noun meaning a device or person that grinds, especially a machine used for reducing solid material to smaller particles. It can also refer to a person who grinds or grinds away at work or a difficult, tiresome task. The term is commonly used for tools (coffee grinder) and in slang for someone who pushes hard or works relentlessly.

Herb is a plant or plant part used to flavor, fragrance, or garnish, often with leaves or leaves and stems. In American English it also refers to a person with special knowledge or experience, as in “an herb of science.” The term can denote culinary seasonings or medicinal plants, and it functions as a common noun in everyday language as well as a specialized term in cooking, botany, and horticulture.

Host (noun): a person who entertains guests, presents a program, or serves as the host of an event. It can also refer to a large number or multitude, such as a host of problems. In everyday speech, the word signals hospitality, leadership, or the central figure coordinating an occasion or broadcast.

Knife is a short, singular-edged implement used for cutting or slicing. It is typically made of metal with a sharp blade and a handle, and is often found in kitchens or workshops. In pronunciation, the word begins with a silent K followed by a vowel-less consonant blend, yielding a compact, crisp onset and a trailing, high-amenable vowel sound.

Linen is a noun referring to fabric made from the flax plant or to household items (like linens) made from that fabric. It denotes a lightweight, breathable material with a slightly crisp texture, commonly used for apparel and bedding. The term also historically covers linen cloth in general, and it appears in phrases describing the fabric’s origin or quality.

Manager is a noun referring to a person responsible for directing operations, supervising staff, or supervising a project or team. It denotes a leadership or administrative role within an organization, often implying responsibility for performance and resource allocation. The term encompasses both middle and senior level roles, and is frequently used in organizational and business contexts.

Mortar is a noun meaning a bowl-shaped vessel used for pounding and grinding substances, or a substance used in construction to bind bricks, stones, or tiles together when mixed with a binder like cement. It can also refer to the act of pounding in a mortar and pestle. In modern contexts, it often designates the binding material in masonry and the tool’s action.

Mozzarella is a soft, white Italian cheese made from the milk of water buffalo or cows and aged for a short period. It is known for its mild flavor, springy texture, and meltability, widely used on pizzas and in fresh salads. The term also denotes the cheese’s typical organization into supple, curd-like strands when sliced or torn.

Mushroom is a type of fungus with a cap and stem, often edible, used in cooking and cuisine. It refers to the reproductive structure of fungi, typically fleshy and spore-bearing, varying in size and shape. The term encompasses cultivated varieties and wild species, and is also used metaphorically in phrases like “mushroom cloud.”

Oil (noun) refers to a viscous liquid derived from plants, animals, or minerals used as fuel, lubricant, or in cooking. It also denotes a substance that yields a slippery, greasy surface or a metaphorical means of leverage. In everyday speech, it often represents a familiar, essential household commodity and a key topic in industry, chemistry, and cuisine.

Onion is a bulbous vegetable characterized by layered, pungent flesh and a papery skin. As a noun, it refers to the plant itself or its edible bulb used in cooking. The word is commonly pronounced with two syllables and a light, often unstressed second syllable within many varieties of English. Its meaning is concrete and widely understood across culinary contexts.

Oregano is a hardy, aromatic herb used to flavor dishes. In botany, it refers to Origanum vulgare, a perennial plant native to the Mediterranean. In cooking, the dried or fresh leaves contribute a warm, slightly bitter, peppery note that complements tomato-based sauces and grilled meats; in some cuisines, it blends with other herbs to create a savory backbone for many recipes.

Oven is a heated enclosure used for baking or roasting foods. As a noun, it refers to the device itself as well as the interior chamber where food is cooked; in some contexts it can denote the act of cooking in an oven. It typically operates at high temperatures and is a staple appliance in kitchens, enabling dry, even heat transfer to foods.

Pan (noun) refers to a shallow, typically circular cooking vessel with a flat bottom used for frying or sautéing. It may also denote a broadly defined audience or region in classical myth, but in everyday use it most often names the cooking utensil. In specialized contexts it can mean the act of pan-and-zoom or disaster pan in film editing. Overall, it conveys a domestic, culinary object or a metaphorical range of coverage.