Dishes
/ˈdɪʃɪz/
Definitions
2 meaningsPlural of dish, referring to plates, bowls, or similar receptacles used for serving food, or the food prepared and served in them.
/ˈdɪʃɪz/
Plural of dish; containers for food or the food itself.
After the party, we had to wash a mountain of dishes.
💡 Simply: Dishes are like the plates and bowls you eat off of, or the special meals you eat, like a yummy pasta dish! Think of it as the things on your table.
👶 For kids: Dishes are the things you eat your food from, like plates and bowls!
More Examples
The restaurant served a variety of exotic dishes.
He stacked the dishes carefully in the cupboard.
How It's Used
"She washed the dishes after dinner."
"The chef prepared several gourmet dishes."
To serve or present (food) from a dish, especially to a group; to deal with food or other items in a generous manner.
/ˈdɪʃɪz/
To use in the context of serving food, like dishing out food to a group.
She was dishing out the soup at the soup kitchen.
💡 Simply: To 'dish out' is to give food to someone, like when you serve someone at a buffet, the food, so they can enjoy it.
👶 For kids: To dish means to give food to someone!
More Examples
The caterers dished out the meals to the hungry crowd.
He was dishing out compliments to everyone he met.
How It's Used
"She dishes out the food to the guests."
From Middle English *dysshes*, plural of *dysh*, from Old English *disc* ('dish, plate'), from Proto-Germanic *diskaz* ('flat plate'), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeyḱ-* ('to arrange, shape').
The word 'dishes' has been used to refer to food service items since the Old English period. It has evolved to include the food itself over time.
Memory tip
Think of the plates and bowls you use at mealtimes, or the meal itself.