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Glite Dictionary
light appetizer

light appetizer

3.2
A small not heavy dish served before the main meal to make you want to eat
  • noun
  • /laɪt ˌæpɪˈtaɪzər/
translation icon : aperitivo ligero
  • We ordered a light appetizer to start the meal.

Examples

  • At the party, guests enjoyed a light appetizer before the main courses were served.

  • A bowl of soup makes a perfect light appetizer on a cool evening.

  • We started our dinner with a light appetizer of cucumber salad.

  • The restaurant offers several light appetizers on the menu.

  • When hosting a dinner party, it's nice to offer a light appetizer such as bruschetta to start the meal.

  • For a refreshing start to the meal, consider serving a light appetizer of cucumber salad.

  • A light appetizer like shrimp cocktail can whet your appetite before the main course.

Synonyms

appetizer
vslight appetizer
  • US
103 2.6

A small food or drink served before a main meal to make you hungry

is specifically a light not heavy portion before the main meal
cocktail
vslight appetizer
52 4.1

A small first course of seafood or fruit often served with a spicy sauce

is a general light premeal serving rather than that specific type
hors d'oeuvre
vslight appetizer
48 8.4

A small dish you have before a main meal to make you hungry

is a light serving used before the main meal rather than a full course
starter
vslight appetizer
  • UK
9 1.9

A small dish served before the main course to begin a meal

is lighter in size rather than being the formal first course
appy
vslight appetizer
  • Australian
1 9.9

A small starter dish served before the main meal in Australia and New Zealand

is the neutral term for a light not heavy premeal serving

How Filling

main course
28 1.3
appetizer
  • US
103 2.6
light appetizer
3.2
bite
302 1.0

Surface Forms

light appetizer singular
light appetizers plural

Morphology

light + appetizer

The meaning 'a small or not-heavy starter' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'light' (not heavy, low in richness or calories) with 'appetizer' (a starter to stimulate the appetite). This adjective+noun composition follows ordinary compositional semantics and is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The phrase light appetizer comes from putting light (meaning 'not heavy') together with appetizer (a small dish that 'makes you hungry'). So a light appetizer is a small, gentle plate that wakes your hunger without filling you up.