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gastronome

gastronome

1 8.6
A person who enjoys very good food and drink
  • noun
  • /ˈɡæstrəˌnoʊm/
translation icon : gastrónomo
  • The festival attracted many gastronomes who filled the streets to enjoy the finest local delicacies.
  • French gastronome

Examples

  • But they, it seems, do know me and have invited me in a few times, introducing me as "a native, an American writer and gastronome; you won't believe it, but he's one of the Levys from our bakery."

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Twenty ravenous gastronomes stare up at me from the table each night, and what do I have to offer them?

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Their descendants have preserved their enthusiasm and practice it with the refinement of gastronomes the world over.

    Academic text (1990)
  • At the time, 28 years ago (when D'Artagnan started), she was actively working to organize the gastronomes of the country and constantly invited us to participate in her events and gatherings.

    Blog text (2)
  • As a true gastronome, she savored every course of the exquisite meal prepared by the chef.

  • He considers himself a gastronome and spends his weekends exploring new restaurants and cuisines.

Synonyms

gourmet
vsgastronome
85 6.5

A person who likes and knows a lot about fine food and drink

is the more formal name for the same refined enjoyment
foodie
vsgastronome
  • Informal
14 5.9

A person who loves trying different foods and drinks

is focused more on refined appreciation than casual interest
bon vivant
vsgastronome
4 9.6

A person who enjoys good restaurants, fine wine, and living in style

focuses on refined food appreciation rather than wider luxurious lifestyle
epicurean
vsgastronome
1 9.1

A person who enjoys fine food and drink

is the standard word for enjoying fine food and drink
epicure
vsgastronome
1 9.3

A person who likes very good food and drink and pays attention to taste

is similar but more neutral and shows refined appreciation
true foodie
vsgastronome
  • Informal
4.6

A person who loves trying new and different foods and restaurants

is more about refined appreciative enjoyment than sheer enthusiasm
gastronomist
vsgastronome
7.4

A person who knows a lot about food and cooking

is about loving and appreciating fine food rather than being a specialist

How Food-Loving

epicure
1 9.3
gourmet
85 6.5
gastronome
1 8.6
foodie
  • Informal
14 5.9
eater
115 1.0

Surface Forms

gastronome singular
gastronomes plural

Morphology

gastronome = gastronomy (semi-transparent) = gastro + nome

The relation to 'gastronomy' (food, cooking) is recognizable, but the element '-nome' is not a productive English suffix meaning 'person', so learners may only partly infer the meaning.

Etymology

The word gastronome comes from Greek parts gastro- meaning 'stomach' and -nom meaning 'rule', so it originally meant someone who knows the 'rules of the stomach'. That's why a gastronome today is a person who knows and loves fine food and drink.