first course
Meal's initial serving
The first course is the opening dish of a multi-course meal, served before the main course.
It's typically lighter fare—soup, salad, or an appetizer—meant to stimulate the appetite rather than satisfy it: We had a lovely mushroom bisque as a first course.
In formal dining, multiple courses follow in prescribed order.
- appetizerLight dish preceding main
- starterInitiator of action
- soupCooked liquid dish
- saladCold dressed vegetables
- hors d'oeuvresSmall savory pre-meal bites
antipasto · bruschetta · bread · shrimp cocktail · opening · beginning · menu · dining · restaurant · dinner party · table setting · waiter · napkin · palate · light · small plate · amuse-bouche · gazpacho
first coursedessert
Sweet course after dinner
dessert course · cheese course · petit fours · nightcap · second course
first coursemain course
Primary dish served
entrée · main dish · main event · pièce de résistance · main attraction