dish

dish — noun

1. a wide, shallow container, usually round or oval, used for holding, serving, or

1.nounA2
Definition

a wide, shallow container, usually round or oval, used for holding, serving, or cooking food.

Example

Stephanie placed the roasted chicken on a large ceramic dish and brought it to the table.

collocation: ceramic / glass / serving dish

Tendai poured the hot soup into a deep dish before adding the fresh herbs.

Common collocations
  • ceramic dish
  • glass dish
  • oven dish
  • serving dish
  • shallow dish
  • deep dish
Synonyms
  • plate

    flatter and usually smaller; used for eating from rather than serving or cooking

  • bowl

    deeper than a dish; used for liquids or food that needs stirring

  • platter

    a large, flat dish, especially for serving meat or fish

Grammar Patterns

a [adjective] dish + of [food]

2. the eating items — such as plates, drinking glasses, and cutlery — that require

2.nounA2
Definition

the eating items — such as plates, drinking glasses, and cutlery — that require washing once people finish a meal.

Example

After dinner, Noa stacked all the dirty dishes next to the sink.

Mark washed the dishes while Evelyn dried them with a clean towel.

common phrase: do / wash the dishes

Common collocations
  • wash the dishes
  • do the dishes
  • clean the dishes
  • dry the dishes
  • stack the dishes
Synonyms
  • tableware

    more formal term for plates, glasses, and cutlery used at a meal

  • crockery

    British English; refers specifically to plates, bowls, and cups made of clay or ceramic

Grammar Patterns

do/wash/clean the dishes

Usage Note

Almost always used in the plural form 'the dishes' when referring to items that need washing. The singular 'dish' in this sense is very rare.

Common Mistakes

I need to wash the dish after dinner.
I need to wash the dishes after dinner.
The plural 'dishes' is used for all the plates, bowls, and utensils together.

3. a specific kind of food that has been prepared using a particular method and is

3.nounA2
Definition

a specific kind of food that has been prepared using a particular method and is typically eaten at a set time during a meal.

Example

The chef at that restaurant is famous for her seafood dishes.

Yuna ordered a spicy noodle dish with tofu and fresh vegetables for lunch.

Common collocations
  • seafood dish
  • vegetarian dish
  • main dish
  • side dish
  • traditional dish
  • cold dish
Synonyms
  • recipe

    refers to the instructions for preparing a dish, not the food itself

  • speciality

    a dish that a particular person or place is especially known for making well

  • course

    one part of a meal, such as the starter, main course, or dessert

Grammar Patterns

[adjective/name] + dish

Usage Note

Often modified by a cuisine adjective ('Italian dish'), a main ingredient ('chicken dish'), or a cooking method ('roasted dish').

4. a person, usually a woman, who is sexually attractive.

4.nounB2
Definition

a person, usually a woman, who is sexually attractive.

Example

Andrei told his roommate that the new neighbour was quite a dish, and his roommate agreed with a smile.

Roya laughed when her friends teased her for looking like a real dish in that red dress.

informal register

Common collocations
  • quite a dish
  • real dish
Synonyms
  • stunner

    modern slang; a person who is extremely attractive, especially a woman

  • looker

    informal; a good-looking person, similar in register to 'dish'

Grammar Patterns

a bit of a dish

quite a dish

Usage Note

Very informal slang. Can be considered old-fashioned or offensive when used about a person. Avoid using it in polite or professional conversation.

Common Mistakes

She is dish.
She is a dish.
The indefinite article 'a' is required because 'dish' is a countable noun in this sense.

5. an activity, hobby, or subject that a person particularly enjoys or is good at.

5.nounC1
Definition

an activity, hobby, or subject that a person particularly enjoys or is good at.

Example

Playing chess has never been my dish, but my brother can play for hours without getting bored.

pattern: not one's dish

Classical music is more Manuela's dish than pop music, so she bought tickets to the symphony.

Common collocations
  • my dish
  • not my dish
Synonyms
  • cup of tea

    the most common equivalent idiom, used in both British and American English

  • thing

    informal; 'not my thing' is a very common modern alternative

Grammar Patterns

not one's dish

more someone's dish

Usage Note

Almost always used in negative sentences ('not my dish') or in comparisons. More common in British English than American English. Similar in meaning and use to 'cup of tea'.

dish — verb

Word family

  • dishware
    nounB2
  • dishwasher
    nounA2
  • dishcloth
    nounB1
  • dishful
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/3

All five words relate to food that people eat, but each has a different scope. A 'dish' is one specific type of prepared food — for example, pad thai or roast chicken — and can be combined with a cuisine adjective ('Italian dish'). A 'meal' is the whole eating event or the combination of dishes eaten at one time ('a three-course meal'). 'Cuisine' refers to a whole style or tradition of cooking from a region or culture ('French cuisine'), not a single item. A 'plate' can mean a single serving of food arranged on a plate ('a plate of spaghetti'), often used in cafeterias. A 'course' is one part of a multi-part meal ('the main course'). So you might say: 'The restaurant serves excellent Italian cuisine. For a starter course, try the bruschetta, and the seafood dish for the main course — it makes a perfect meal.'

dish ↗meal ↗cuisine ↗plate ↗course ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • side dish
  • main dish
  • serving dish
  • dish rack
  • dish towel

Phrases

  • do the dishes
  • wash the dishes
  • dry the dishes
  • dish out
  • dish up
  • dish the dirt

Prepositions

  • dish of
  • dish on
  • dish about

Etymology

Old EnglishLatinGreekEnglish

The word 'dish' comes from Old English 'disc' (plate, bowl), which was borrowed from Latin 'discus' (a round flat object used for throwing in sports). The Latin word later also came to mean 'a plate' or 'a dish' in Late Latin. The sports meaning of the verb (to pass a ball) is a modern extension from the 20th century, comparing the action of passing to throwing a discus or serving food. The slang sense of 'attractive person' dates from the early 20th century.