Dictionary

entrée en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈɒntɹeɪ/
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈɑntɹeɪ/

Etymology

Borrowed from French entrée. Doublet of entrada and entry.

Meanings

1. (Australia, New-Zealand, Quebec, UK, historical, in the US and Canada) A smaller dish served before the main course of a meal.
   • Even the cardinal virtues cannot atone for half-cold entrées, as Lord Henry remarked once, in a discussion on the subject, and there is possibly a good deal to be said for his view. 1891, Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, London; New York, N.Y.: Ward Lock & Co., →OCLC:
   • ENTREES AND ENTREMETS. Usually, outside of France, entrees are side or corner dishes. ... In conclusion I again remark, entrees can be made from almost anything, the difference being, they are highly cooked and seasoned. Remember nothing large is served as an entree. There are game entrees, meat entrees, fish entrees, fowl entrees, etc. 1887, Estelle Woods Wilcox, Practical housekeeping: A careful compilation of tried and approved recipes (published in Dayton, Ohio, United States), page 457:
2. (Canada, US) The main course or main dish of a meal.
   • Entree: The main course is normally beef, chicken, duck, or lamb, and you eat these foods with a dinner knife and dinner fork. 2007, Sue Fox, Etiquette for Dummies (published in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States), page 180:
3. The act of entering somewhere, or permission to enter; admittance.
   • But soon Edward [Scissorhands] […] becomes very popular when the neighbors find out that he is able to create ingenious, beautiful topiaries in the gardens, great hairdos for women, and superb grooming on pet dogs. He even comes in handy grilling shish-kabobs at a barbecue. Edward understands that his entrée into social acceptability is through his talent, and he wants to be accepted and loved. 1990 December 16, Michael Bronski, “Cutting Up”, in Gay Community News, volume 18, number 22, page 20:
   • It was not by the aid of mules and porters, sedans and sledges, that the hero of Carthage made his entrée into Italy. 1796, John Owen, Owen's travels into different parts of Europe, in the years 1791 and 1792, page 307:
   • Much as it is the fashion to deride the nobility, by decrying their morality and denying their ability, even by those who have the entrée, and therefore may be supposed to know them the best, in point of fact, at the present day, there are amongst them an immense proportion of good and sensible people. 1838 (date written), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XIX, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], published 1842, →OCLC, page 245:
   • Burton conveniently afforded him entree into the world of art and those who buy it. 2008, Lyn Hamilton, The Chinese Alchemist, page 253:
   • I admit that the Hanoverian Court is not much. Still, it is better than nothing. At your presentation, moreover, you would be given the entree. Is that nothing to you? 1911 October 26, Max Beerbohm, Zuleika Dobson, or, An Oxford Love Story, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: John Lane Company, published 1912, →OCLC:
4. An introduction or prelude.

Forms

Relateds

appetizer · starter · entry

Synonyms

starter · main course · admission · entry · access · admittance · hors d'oeuvre · appetizer · main

Translations (39)

ru антре́ (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer) · uk перша страва (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer) · pl wejście (act of entering) · el ορεκτικό (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer) · pl zakąska (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer) · ja アントレ (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer) · ko 앙트레 (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer) · la gustātiō (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer) · fi alkupala (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer) · sv entré (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer) · ka პირველი კურსი (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer) · sv entré (act of entering) · uk заку́ска (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer) · fr entrée (act of entering) · bg предястие (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer) · ru вход (act of entering) · ru вхожде́ние (act of entering) · cmn 前菜 (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer) · sv entrérätt (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer) · mi kumamatanga (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer) · ru пе́рвое блю́до (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer) · ro aperitiv (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer) · sv inträde (act of entering) · pl przystawka (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer) · io entreo (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer) · fr entrée (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer) · fi sisääntulo (act of entering) · ru заку́ска (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer) · sv intåg (act of entering) · bg влизане (act of entering) · sh predjelo (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer) · ro intrare (act of entering) · de Zutritt (act of entering) · sv ankomst (act of entering) · pt entrada (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer) · de Vorspeise (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer) · de Zugang (act of entering) · sv förrätt (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer) · es entremés (dish served before the main course of a meal — see also starter, appetizer)