entrée
UK: ˈɒntreɪ | US: ˈɑːntreɪ
n. a dish served before the main course (in modern French and international dining contexts)
n. the main course of a meal (in traditional French usage)
n. the act of entering or the right to enter
The word "entrée" comes from French, where it originally meant "entry" or "the act of entering." It derives from the Old French "entree," the feminine past participle of "entrer" (to enter), which in turn comes from Latin "intrare" (to enter). In culinary terms, it evolved to mean the "entry" or introductory dish in a meal (modern usage) or the main course (traditional French usage). The suffix "-ée" marks it as a noun derived from a verb.
The restaurant served a delicious mushroom soup as the entrée.
In France, the entrée is often the main dish, not the starter.
She made a grand entrée at the party, wearing a stunning red dress.
The ticket grants you entrée to the exclusive event.
The chef’s signature entrée is a seared duck breast with cherry sauce.