dish
A1Neutral (used in all registers from everyday conversation to formal contexts)
Definition
Meaning
A shallow, flat-bottomed container used for cooking, serving, or eating food.
The food prepared and served in such a container; a particular type of prepared food; a piece of equipment, such as a satellite dish, for receiving or transmitting signals.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Core meaning is concrete (container). Secondary meanings include the contents of the container (food) and a specific type of food preparation. Extended meaning into technology is a metaphorical extension based on shape.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal difference in core meaning. 'Dish' can be synonymous with 'main course' in British English (e.g., 'the main dish'), while in US English, 'entree' is more common for the main course. 'Dish' as a verb ('to dish up/out') is used in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral in both. 'Dish the dirt' (gossip) is informal in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties for the primary meanings.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
dish something out/up (serve food)dish the dirt (on somebody) (gossip)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “dish the dirt”
- “dish it out (criticize)”
- “done like a dinner/dish (defeated soundly, informal)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could appear in catering or hospitality contexts (e.g., 'our signature dish').
Academic
Used in scientific contexts (e.g., 'petri dish').
Everyday
Very common for referring to containers, food, and washing up.
Technical
Common in broadcasting/telecoms (e.g., 'satellite dish', 'parabolic dish').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Could you dish up the potatoes, please?
- He's always dishing out criticism.
American English
- She dished out the chili into bowls.
- The talk show host loves to dish on celebrities.
adjective
British English
- The dish soap is under the sink.
- We need a new dish rack.
American English
- Do we have any dish towels?
- The dish detergent is almost empty.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I washed the dishes after dinner.
- This is my favourite dish.
- Could you pass me the serving dish?
- They specialise in traditional local dishes.
- The chef's signature dish involves locally sourced seafood.
- We had the satellite dish installed yesterday.
- The new restaurant dishes up a sophisticated take on comfort food.
- He can dish out sarcasm but rarely takes it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
DISH sounds like FISH. Think of a fish served on a dish.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER FOR FOOD IS A DISH (core); INFORMATION/SIGNALS ARE FOOD (extended, as in 'satellite dish' receives signals).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not to be confused with 'дешёвый' (cheap). The Russian word 'диск' (disk) is phonetically similar but semantically different from 'satellite dish'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'plate' for cooking containers (a plate is typically flat for eating; a dish can be deeper for cooking/serving).
- Confusing 'dish' (food) with 'cuisine' (style of cooking).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a common meaning of 'dish'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A plate is usually flat and used for eating. A dish is often deeper, used for cooking, serving, or eating. 'Dish' can also refer to the food itself ('a pasta dish').
Yes, meaning to serve food ('dish up') or, informally, to gossip ('dish the dirt').
Yes, it's a metaphorical extension based on the similar shallow, concave shape of the object.
A smaller portion of food served alongside the main dish or main course (e.g., vegetables, salad).