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Glite Dictionary
Delmonico steak

Delmonico steak

1 6.7
A small tender steak cut from the front of the cow's back served as a luxury dish
  • noun
  • /ˌdɛlməˈnɪkoʊ steɪk/
  • US
translation icon : bistec Delmonico
  • The Delmonico steak was cooked to perfection.

Examples

  • I ordered a Delmonico steak for dinner.

  • The chef recommended the Delmonico steak because of its tender texture and rich flavor.

  • He ordered a perfectly cooked Delmonico steak at the famous steakhouse downtown.

  • Many food historians credit Delmonico's restaurant for popularizing the Delmonico steak in America.

  • For dinner, we ordered a delicious Delmonico steak served with a side of garlic mashed potatoes.

  • The chef recommended the Delmonico steak as the highlight of the menu for special occasions.

  • At the upscale restaurant, I savored every bite of my perfectly cooked Delmonico steak.

Synonyms

steak
vsDelmonico steak
474 1.0

A thick slice of meat, usually beef, that people cook to eat

names a specific small front short loin cut rather than meat in general
filet mignon
vsDelmonico steak
12 7.7

A small, very tender steak cut from the thick end of beef tenderloin

is cut from the front short loin rather than from the tenderloin
strip steak
vsDelmonico steak
  • US
3 3.2

A tender cut of beef from the back of the cow often served as a thick piece

is from the front short loin rather than the upper part
sirloin steak
vsDelmonico steak
1 2.1

A thick tender cut of beef from the sirloin used for grilling or frying

is a smaller front short loin cut instead of a thick rear loin piece
club steak
vsDelmonico steak
  • Specialized
3.8

A small tender steak cut from the front of the short loin, like a small T-bone

is the same cut but traditionally served as a luxury dish
tournedos
vsDelmonico steak
  • Specialized
9.6

A small thick steak cut from the beef tenderloin, often served in French cooking

comes from the front short loin rather than from the tenderloin
braciola
vsDelmonico steak
8.6

A small thin steak like a chop cooked on a grill or in a pan

is a small but typically thicker front short loin cut

Surface Forms

Delmonico steak singular
Delmonico steaks plural

Morphology

Delmonico + steak

The headword contains the clear noun 'steak', so a B1 learner would readily infer this is a type or name of steak (i.e. a steak named 'Delmonico'). However, 'Delmonico' is a proper name with no transparent lexical meaning, so the specific sense (particular cut, size, or luxury connotation) is not predictable from the constituents alone. Because the category is clear but the detailed meaning requires familiarity, the expression is best classed as semi-transparent.

Etymology

Delmonico steak may come from Delmonico, the name of a famous New York restaurant where the owners long ago served a special, small, rich steak that customers loved. People began asking for that 'Delmonico' dish by name, so today Delmonico steak means a small, 'luxury' steak.