menu

[ men-yoo ]

noun

1. 1. a list of the dishes that can be ordered in a restaurant or that will be served at a formal meal; bill of fare:

      Ask the waiter for a menu.

   2. the dishes themselves:

      First on the menu was a delicious broccoli soup.

2. any list or set of items, activities, etc., from which to choose:

   What's on the menu this weekend—golf, tennis, swimming?

3. Digital Technology. a list of options available to a user, as displayed on a screen or listed in a recorded telephone greeting:

   From the main menu at the top of the window, select Tools and then Internet Options.

verb (used with object)

1. to make available for ordering at a restaurant:

   There will be one entrée and one salad menued each day.

   Some casual restaurants have begun menuing alcoholic beverages.

menu

/ ˈmɛnjuː /

noun

1. a list of dishes served at a meal or that can be ordered in a restaurant
2. a list of options displayed on a visual display unit from which the operator selects an action to be carried out by positioning the cursor or by depressing the appropriate key

Other Words From

• men·ued adjective
• men·u·ing noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of menu¹

First recorded in 1650–60; from French: “detailed list,” noun use of menu “small, detailed,” from Latin minūtus minute ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of menu¹

C19: from French menu small, detailed (list), from Latin minūtus minute ²

Example Sentences

Bodega SF’s Jurassic Vineyard Riesling, crafted in collaboration with Comptoir Wine Co., offers a crisp, dry profile that perfectly complements the restaurant’s Vietnamese menu.

From Salon

Some of the earliest dishes have found their way onto the menu at our newest café, Patty O’s, where they are enjoying great popularity.

From Salon

Coffee giant Starbucks announced a change of CEO in August, following falling sales caused by factors including a complicated menu, tough competition in China, and boycotts linked to the war in the Middle East.

From BBC

Using an array of techniques such as chemical analysis and synchrotron microtomography, a powerful imaging technique, the scientists investigated the prehistoric menu.

From Science Magazine

The show is in its 15th season so it must be doing something right — that McCormick is also credited for the cocktail menu could be taken as a hint.

From New York Times

Related Words

• card
• cuisine
• food
• table