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cuisine

n.
US //kwɪˈzin// UK //kwɪzˈiːn// cui·sine
  1. 1 style of cooking (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Cooking

    a specific style of cooking that belongs to a country or culture.

    a characteristic manner or style of food preparation, typically associated with a specific geographic region or ethnic group.

    Example

    Italian cuisine is famous all over the world for its pasta and pizza dishes.

    Example

    The chef specialises in fusion cuisine, blending traditional Japanese techniques with locally sourced ingredients from the Mediterranean coast.
  2. 2 high-quality food (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Cooking

    expensive or very high-quality food served in a restaurant.

    the food prepared in a specific style, often implying a high standard of culinary art or 'haute cuisine'.

    Example

    The hotel is known for its excellent cuisine and beautiful views of the sea.

    Example

    Critics praised the restaurant for its innovative cuisine, noting that every course was a masterpiece of balance and texture.
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  1. 3 a kitchen (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic Formal

    a room or department where cooking is done.

    a kitchen or cooking department within a large household or institution.

    Example

    The servants hurried between the dining hall and the cuisine to fetch more wine.

    Example

    The architectural plans for the manor house situated the cuisine in the basement to ensure that cooking smells did not reach the guest quarters.

    Usage

    Rarely used in modern English except in historical contexts or when referring to the physical layout of grand estates.
Origin

Borrowed from French cuisine (“cooking, culinary art, kitchen”), from Late Latin cocīna, from earlier coquīna (“kitchen”). Doublet of kitchen.

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