menu

noun

ˈmen-(ˌ)yü How to pronounce menu (audio)
ˈmān-
plural menus
1
a
: a list of the dishes that may be ordered (as in a restaurant) or that are to be served (as at a banquet)
b(1)
: a comparable list or assortment of offerings
a menu of television programs
(2)
: a list shown on the display of a computer from which a user can select the operation the computer is to perform
2
: the dishes available for or served at a meal
also : the meal itself

Examples of menu in a Sentence

I'd like to see your lunch menu, please. What's good on the menu today? There are two chicken dishes under eight dollars listed on the menu. a menu of television programs You can save your work by choosing “Save” from the “File” menu.
Recent Examples on the Web The food offered by executive chef Matthew Kirkley is also distinctly British, so the menu features dover sole, lobster, chicken and mushroom pie and aged prime rib. Abid Rahman, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2024 The menu is varied, not just Italian, but has chicken, fish, veal dishes and more including specials with various preparations. Felicia Campbell, The Arizona Republic, 12 Mar. 2024 Bon Bon Shop will serve boba tea, coffee and sweets, although a full menu is still in the works, according to co-owner Sai Yang. Jessica Rodriguez, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024 Frisch's Big Boy's menu is filled with fan favorites. David Wysong, The Enquirer, 10 Mar. 2024 The breakfast menu leans to classic omelets with local flavor, including the Saratoga, which will pack in avocado, bacon, onion, mushroom, tomato and cheddar cheese, while the Wild Cat mixes it up with avocado, mushroom, jalapeno, sausage and jack cheese. Laura Ness, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2024 The menu embraces several cuts of beef and succulent, inches-thick lamb chops served with mint jelly. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 The menu suggests pairing the dish with a half-glass of Cava, a crisp Spanish sparkling wine, which complemented the flavors nicely. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2024 The menu reflects Yearwood’s work as a bestselling cookbook author and star of her Daytime Emmy-winning Food Network cooking show, Trisha’s Southern Kitchen. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'menu.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, from menu small, detailed, from Old French — more at minuet

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of menu was in 1830

Dictionary Entries Near menu

Cite this Entry

“Menu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/menu. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

menu

noun
ˈmen-yü How to pronounce menu (audio)
ˈmān-
1
: a list of dishes served at or available for a meal
also : a similar list of offerings
a menu of TV programs
2
: the dishes served at a meal
3
: a list of computer operations shown on the display screen for a user to select from
a menu of printing options
Etymology

from French menu "a list of food dishes," from menu (adjective) "small, detailed," from Latin minutus "small" — related to minute

Word Origin
Many restaurants boast of having large menus, but the origin of the word menu actually suggests the idea of smallness. The origins of menu can be traced to the Latin adjective minutus, meaning "small." Minutus is also the source of our word minute. From minutus came the French adjective menu, which has several meanings including "small" and "detailed." The use of menu as a noun meaning "a list of food" probably came from the "detailed" sense of the adjective, since a menu is most often a detailed list.

More from Merriam-Webster on menu

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