a small amount of food or drink taken to stimulate the appetite any stimulating foretaste
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
ap•pe•tiz•er /ˈæpɪˌtaɪzɚ/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- Fooda small portion of a food or drink served before or at the beginning of a meal to stimulate the appetite.
ap•pe•tiz•er
(ap′i tī′zər),USA pronunciation n.
- Fooda small portion of a food or drink served before or at the beginning of a meal to stimulate the desire to eat.
- any small portion that stimulates a desire for more or that indicates more is to follow:The first game was an appetizer to a great football season.
- appetiz(ing) + -er1 1860–65
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'appetizer' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
antepast
- apéritif
- caponata
- carpaccio
- caviar
- ceviche
- chimichanga
- chipotle
- cocktail
- coquilles St. Jacques
- crudités
- dim sum
- falafel
- frappe
- fruit cup
- hors d'oeuvre
- kickshaw
- knish
- nacho
- pearl onion
- pupu
- relish
- rillettes
- rollmop
- savory
- supreme
- tapa
- whet