Dish
/dɪʃ/
Definitions
4 meaningsA container used for holding food, typically flat and round.
/dɪʃ/
A container for holding food
Please pass the dish of mashed potatoes.
💡 Simply: Imagine a special plate or bowl used to put your food on. When you go to a restaurant or eat dinner at home, you put your meal on a dish.
👶 For kids: A dish is like a plate or a bowl that you eat your food from.
More Examples
She set the dirty dishes in the sink.
The restaurant is famous for its signature dish.
How It's Used
"She placed the casserole in a baking dish."
"The waiter brought our dishes to the table."
A specific item of prepared food or a meal.
/dɪʃ/
A particular prepared food or meal
This restaurant's signature dish is the lobster ravioli.
💡 Simply: It's a tasty meal, like spaghetti or a roast chicken. When people say 'What's your favorite dish?' they're asking about your favorite food.
👶 For kids: A dish is a special kind of food that you eat. Like pizza or ice cream!
More Examples
She prepared a delicious dish of pasta.
The chef experimented with a new dish featuring exotic spices.
How It's Used
"Paella is a traditional Spanish dish."
"The chef created a new dish for the menu."
To serve food or put food on a dish or plate.
/dɪʃ/
To put food on a dish or serve
The cook dished out generous portions of the spaghetti.
💡 Simply: It's like when you're putting food from a pot or pan onto a plate. You're 'dishing up' the food so everyone can eat it.
👶 For kids: To dish something up is like putting the food on your plate so you can eat it.
More Examples
She dished up the vegetables on the side.
I'll dish out the ice cream after dinner.
How It's Used
"He dished out the portions of stew."
"The server dished up the meals quickly."
To talk about other people's private affairs (often gossip).
/dɪʃ/
To tell gossip
They were dishing about the new teacher at the coffee shop.
💡 Simply: It's like sharing the latest juicy secrets or gossip about someone. Think of it as serving up a tasty dish of gossip.
👶 For kids: Sometimes 'dish' means to tell secrets about people, like their problems.
More Examples
She loves to dish the dirt on her coworkers.
Let's not dish about other people.
How It's Used
"She loves to dish about the neighbors."
Idioms & expressions
dish out
To give or distribute something, often in large quantities.
"The company dished out bonuses to its employees."
a clean dish
A person with a clean record or reputation. Can also describe a person who is well-behaved or doesn't get into trouble.
"He's always been a clean dish and a good worker; he deserves the promotion."
From Old English *disc* (a plate, platter), from Late Latin *discus* (a plate, dish), from Greek *diskos* (a disc).
The word 'dish' has been used since Old English times, originally referring to a flat, open container.
Memory tip
Think of a plate or bowl used for serving food.