plural amuse-bouches also amuses-bouches ə-ˈmyüz-büsh How to pronounce amuse-bouche (audio)
-ˈbü-shəz,
ˈä-ˌmüz-ˈbüsh How to pronounce amuse-bouche (audio)
-ˈbü-shəz,
-ˌmᵫz-
: a small complimentary appetizer offered at some restaurants

Examples of amuse-bouche in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Trailers are designed to stir up excitement, the amuse-bouche that whets your appetite for the three-course meal. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2024 For the event, the chefs will work together, presenting different courses from the amuse-bouche to soup, salad, and main courses of the multicourse dinner while celebrating culture and community. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 1 Feb. 2024 Guests receive six full-size cocktails and amuse-bouche from three Charlotte chefs. Charlotte Observer, 13 Dec. 2015 The team formed a semicircle in front of the mosaic and decided to allow themselves a flasher’s amuse-bouche to the next day’s feast. Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2023 Advertisement Plus, the horror elements have actual life-or-death stakes; for a while that makes the silliness of the film’s amuse-bouche jolts and set pieces diverting enough. Jen Yamato, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2023 En Cuisine The atmosphere at this cozy spot in Brive-la-Gaillarde may be relaxed, but the food is ambitious: think amuse-bouches like foie gras with truffle gelée and celery, but no white tablecloths. Nina Caplan, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2023 Any number of Korean tasting menus start with an amuse-bouche or two and end with mignardises. Pete Wells, New York Times, 29 Aug. 2023 For $135, guests can opt for this six-course meal starting with a stone fruit ceviche amuse-bouche and culminating with a pan-roasted New York steak. Camryn Brewer, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'amuse-bouche.' 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, literally, (it) entertains (the) mouth

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of amuse-bouche was in 1959

Podcast

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Cite this Entry

“Amuse-bouche.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amuse-bouche. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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