noun
delicatessen
deh-lih-kuh-TEH-suhn
noun
1
A shop selling prepared foods such as cured meats, cheeses, and specialty items.
"The delicatessen down the street imports cheese from Italy."
How to Use Delicatessen
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA shop specializing in ready-to-eat and specialty foods; usually just called a "deli."
Common pairings
Italian delicatessen
delicatessen counter
Word Forms
delicatessens plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “delicatessen”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ down the street imports cheese from Italy.
Etymology
From German Delikatessen, "delicacies," itself borrowed from French délicatesse.