menu

noun

ˈmen-(ˌ)yü 

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

Synonyms

• card

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

The original building hasn't changed much and the menu is simple, but people still come from far and wide for the signature fried chicken, smothered pork chops and homemade cornbread. —Jill Cassidy, The Arizona Republic, 14 June 2024

Hell or High Water (which strongly encourages reservations) at 112 W. Washington St. in Louisville also has an extensive bourbon menu and offers visitors a unique speakeasy experience. —Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 14 June 2024

Owner Martin Sanchez has not only spent the past 30 years perfecting the restaurant’s menu, but also creating metal sculptures from pieces of scrap metal. —Fidel Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2024

Aside from the menus, Shelter Distilling is a destination for its patio, which offers unobstructed views of the Uncompahgre River and the bike path that runs adjacent to it. —Tiney Ricciardi, The Denver Post, 13 June 2024

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

Phrases Containing menu

• drop-down menu
• help menu
• menu bar
• menu-driven
• pull-down menu
• set menu
• sub-menu
• tasting menu

Kids Definition

menu

noun

ˈmen-yü 

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.