Wordbay · Food & drink

Words for food and drink

For the menu, the recipe and the review: words for taste, cooking, appetite and the people who eat too much or too little.

Everyday (15)

condiment noun. A sauce, relish or seasoning added to food, usually at the table.
culinary adjective. To do with cooking or the kitchen.
delectable adjective. Delicious, or delightful in every way.
famished adjective. Extremely hungry.
garnish verb. To decorate a dish with a little food that adds colour or flavour.
glutton noun. Someone who habitually eats far more than they need.
insipid adjective. Having almost no flavour.
morsel noun. A small piece or mouthful of food.
palatable adjective. Pleasant enough to eat or drink.
piquant adjective. Pleasantly sharp, tangy or spicy in flavour.
ravenous adjective. So hungry that you could eat almost anything.
savour verb. To enjoy the taste of food, or any experience, slowly and fully.
succulent adjective. Juicy and tender, in a way that is pleasing to eat.
teetotal adjective. Never drinking alcohol.
zest noun. The thin, coloured outer skin of a citrus fruit, grated for flavour.

abstemious adjective. Sparing in eating and drinking; not one to indulge.
ambrosial adjective. Heavenly in taste or smell.
bibulous adjective. Very fond of drinking alcohol.
carouse verb. To drink plenty and make merry noisily with others.
comestible noun. An item of food (a formal or playful word, usually plural).
convivial adjective. Friendly, lively and good-humoured, especially around food and drink.
crapulence noun. Sickness or sluggishness that follows eating or drinking far too much.
epicure noun. Someone who takes particular pleasure in fine food and drink.
gastronomy noun. The art and study of choosing, cooking and eating good food.
gourmand noun. Someone who loves eating, often more than is good for them.
hostelry noun. An inn or pub (an old-fashioned or jokey word).
imbibe verb. To drink, especially alcohol.
libation noun. A drink, usually alcoholic (often said with a smile).
provender noun. Food and supplies; first used of dry food for horses and cattle.
repast noun. A meal (a formal word).
satiate verb. To satisfy an appetite or desire completely.
slake verb. To quench a thirst.
sumptuous adjective. Splendid, rich and clearly expensive.
toothsome adjective. Tasty and pleasant to eat.
ullage noun. The empty space between the top of a liquid and the top of its bottle, cask or tank.
victuals noun. Food and provisions (an old-fashioned or jokey word).
zarf noun. A holder, often of ornate metal, for a cup that has no handle.