course
KORS
/kɔːrs/
A specific stage of a meal served at one time, such as an appetizer, main dish, or dessert.
Refers to sequential dining steps rather than individual food items on a single plate.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'currere' (to run), which gave Old French 'cors' (run, motion, path). In dining, 'course' came to mean the running order or flow of dishes brought to the banquet table in distinct succession.
Word relationships
- stage: Stage refers generally to steps in a process, whereas course specifically denotes sequential meal service.
Commonly confused with
- coarse: Coarse means rough in texture; course refers to a sequence, pathway, or meal stage.
Collocations
- main course
- three-course meal
- first course
- dessert course
Idioms & expressions
- in due course
Example sentences
- "The anniversary celebration featured an exquisite seven-course meal paired with fine beverages." Formal meal
Memory hook
Dishes RUN in a course from start to finish. A sequential stage of a meal.
When not to use
Do not use when describing individual ingredients inside a dish.
Fun facts
- Medieval European banquets could feature up to twenty courses over six hours.
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