entrée

plural entrées · alternative entree

1. AustraliaNew ZealandQuebecUKdatedA smaller dish served before the main course of a meal.

   Even the cardinal virtues cannot atone for half-cold entrées, as Lord Henry remarked once, in a discussion on the subject, and there is possibly a good deal to be said for his view.

   1891, Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, London; New York, N.Y.: Ward Lock & Co., →OCLC

   1 more example

   ENTREES AND ENTREMETS. Usually, outside of France, entrees are side or corner dishes. ... In conclusion I again remark, entrees can be made from almost anything, the difference being, they are highly cooked and seasoned. Remember nothing large is served as an entree. There are game entrees, meat entrees, fish entrees, fowl entrees, etc.

   1887, Estelle Woods Wilcox, Practical housekeeping: A careful compilation of tried and approved recipes (published in Dayton, Ohio, United States), page 457

   Synonyms: appetizer, hors d'oeuvre, starter

2. CanadaUSThe main course or main dish of a meal.

   Entree: The main course is normally beef, chicken, duck, or lamb, and you eat these foods with a dinner knife and dinner fork.

   2007, Sue Fox, Etiquette for Dummies (published in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States), page 180

   Synonyms: main, main course

3. The act of entering somewhere, or permission to enter; admittance.

   Burton conveniently afforded him entree into the world of art and those who buy it.

   2008, Lyn Hamilton, The Chinese Alchemist, page 253

   4 more examples

   It was not by the aid of mules and porters, sedans and sledges, that the hero of Carthage made his entrée into Italy.

   1796, John Owen, Owen's travels into different parts of Europe, in the years 1791 and 1792, page 307

   Much as it is the fashion to deride the nobility, by decrying their morality and denying their ability, even by those who have the entrée, and therefore may be supposed to know them the best, in point of fact, at the present day, there are amongst them an immense proportion of good and sensible people.

   1838 (date written), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XIX, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], published 1842, →OCLC, page 245

   I admit that the Hanoverian Court is not much. Still, it is better than nothing. At your presentation, moreover, you would be given the entree. Is that nothing to you?

   1911 October 26, Max Beerbohm, Zuleika Dobson, or, An Oxford Love Story, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: John Lane Company, published 1912, →OCLC

   But soon Edward [Scissorhands] […] becomes very popular when the neighbors find out that he is able to create ingenious, beautiful topiaries in the gardens, great hairdos for women, and superb grooming on pet dogs. He even comes in handy grilling shish-kabobs at a barbecue. Edward understands that his entrée into social acceptability is through his talent, and he wants to be accepted and loved.

   1990 December 16, Michael Bronski, “Cutting Up”, in Gay Community News, volume 18, number 22, page 20

   Synonyms: access, admission, admittance, entry

4. entertainmentAn introduction or prelude.