entree

Noun

entrée (plural entrées)

1. (Australia, New Zealand, Quebec, UK, historical) A smaller dish served before the main course of a meal.
   • ENTREES AND ENTREMETS. Usually, outside of France, entrees are side or corner dishes. ... In conclusion I again remark, entrees can be made from almost anything, the difference being, they are highly cooked and seasoned. Remember nothing large is served as an entree. There are game entrees, meat...1887, Estelle Woods Wilcox, Practical housekeeping: A careful compilation of tried and approved recipes (published in Dayton, Ohio, United States), page 457

   Synonyms:

   appetizer, hors d'oeuvre, starter

2. (Canada, US) The main course or main dish of a meal.
   • Entree: The main course is normally beef, chicken, duck, or lamb, and you eat these foods with a dinner knife and dinner fork.2007, Sue Fox, Etiquette for Dummies (published in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States), page 180

   Synonyms:

   main, main course

3. The act of entering somewhere, or permission to enter; admittance.
   • It was not by the aid of mules and porters, sedans and sledges, that the hero of Carthage made his entrée into Italy.1796, John Owen, Owen's travels into different parts of Europe, in the years 1791 and 1792, page 307

   Synonyms:

   access, admission, admittance, entry

4. An introduction or prelude.