Word
deli
US/ˈdɛɫi/
UK/dˈɛli/
Definitions
01a shop
n. a shop that sells cooked meats, cheeses, and special prepared foods.
n. a retail establishment, often a counter within a larger store, specialising in high-quality prepared foods, imported cheeses, and cold meats.
“I stopped at the local deli to pick up some fresh potato salad for the picnic.”
“The corner deli is renowned for its selection of imported olives and artisanal cheeses that you cannot find in the major supermarkets.”
Informal
Usage
Commonly used as a countable noun; 'delicatessen' is the full, formal version.
Synonyms
02the food itself
n. the types of food, like sliced meats and salads, that you buy at a deli.
n. food items typically sold at a delicatessen, such as cold cuts, prepared salads, and specialty preserves.
“We had some deli meats and rye bread for a quick lunch.”
“The catering platter was piled high with various deli meats, including smoked turkey, roast beef, and spicy salami.”
Informal
Usage
Often used as a modifier before another noun, such as 'deli meat' or 'deli counter'.
Synonyms
Etymology
Attested since 1954. Clipping of delicatessen, from German Delikatessen, plural of Delikatesse (“delicacy, fine food”), from French délicatesse, derived from the adjective délicat, from Latin delicatus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/deli