menu

noun

ˈmen-(ˌ)yü How to pronounce menu (audio)
ˈmān-
plural menus
1
a
: a list of the dishes that may be ordered (as in a restaurant) or that are to be served (as at a banquet)
b(1)
: a comparable list or assortment of offerings
a menu of television programs
(2)
: a list shown on the display of a computer from which a user can select the operation the computer is to perform
2
: the dishes available for or served at a meal
also : the meal itself

Examples of menu in a Sentence

I'd like to see your lunch menu, please. What's good on the menu today? There are two chicken dishes under eight dollars listed on the menu. a menu of television programs You can save your work by choosing “Save” from the “File” menu.
Recent Examples on the Web Taco Pros' menu has varieties of tacos, tortas, burritos, enchiladas and protein bowls, as well as appetizers and deserts. Jessica Rodriguez, Journal Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2024 Open Sunday until midnight Another titan of collegiate bar hopping, Kilroy's offers a robust drink menu — including wine, for those who want to sip pinot grigio alongside their fried pickles — in a raucous atmosphere. Bradley Hohulin, The Indianapolis Star, 29 Oct. 2024 The average price of McDonald’s menu items is up around 40% over the past five years. Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 29 Oct. 2024 This could include everything from menu choices to unique activities like submarines. Ramsey Qubein, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for menu 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'menu.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, from menu small, detailed, from Old French — more at minuet

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of menu was in 1830

Dictionary Entries Near menu

Cite this Entry

“Menu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/menu. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

menu

noun
ˈmen-yü How to pronounce menu (audio)
ˈmān-
1
: a list of dishes served at or available for a meal
also : a similar list of offerings
a menu of TV programs
2
: the dishes served at a meal
3
: a list of computer operations shown on the display screen for a user to select from
a menu of printing options
Etymology

from French menu "a list of food dishes," from menu (adjective) "small, detailed," from Latin minutus "small" — related to minute

Word Origin
Many restaurants boast of having large menus, but the origin of the word menu actually suggests the idea of smallness. The origins of menu can be traced to the Latin adjective minutus, meaning "small." Minutus is also the source of our word minute. From minutus came the French adjective menu, which has several meanings including "small" and "detailed." The use of menu as a noun meaning "a list of food" probably came from the "detailed" sense of the adjective, since a menu is most often a detailed list.

More from Merriam-Webster on menu

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