ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cuisine

n. C / U
B2 Upper Intermediate US //kwɪˈzin// UK //kwɪzˈiːn// cui·sine Archaic

n. a specific style of cooking that belongs to a certain country or culture. It describes the typical ingredients and methods used to prepare food in that place.

n. a characteristic style of cooking or preparing food, often associated with a specific geographic region or culture. Frequently used to categorize restaurant offerings or culinary traditions.


SIMPLE

I really enjoy eating Italian cuisine.

CONTEXTUAL

The city is famous for its diverse food scene, offering everything from spicy Thai cuisine to traditional French dishes.

COMPLEX

Modern fusion cuisine often blends the aromatic spices of Southeast Asia with the rigorous technical foundations of classical European cooking to create entirely new flavor profiles.

Origin

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

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the general concept of cooking; countable when referring to specific regional styles.

Pitfall

The cuisine of this restaurant is very delicious.The food at this restaurant is very delicious.Learners often use 'cuisine' as a fancy synonym for 'food', but it specifically refers to a style or tradition of cooking rather than an individual meal.

© 2026 English Reference