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antipasto

appetiser, starter

noun ahn-tee-PAH-stoh Rare
Food & Drink Dishes

Origin: From anti- (before) + pasto (meal), literally 'before the meal.'

Usage Note

Antipasto is the first course of a traditional Italian meal, served before the primo (pasta/soup) and secondo (meat/fish). In Italian usage it refers to a specific course; its use in English for any Italian-style platter is a simplification. The plural is antipasti, now common in English food contexts as well.

Examples

"Abbiamo ordinato un antipasto di affettati."

Natural Translation

We ordered a starter of cold cuts.

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