noun
smorgasbord
SMAW-gas-bawd
Smorgasbord (noun) means a buffet-style spread of many different dishes laid out for guests to help themselves. Example: “The hotel breakfast was a smorgasbord of pastries, cold meats, and cheeses.”
noun
1
A buffet-style spread of many different dishes laid out for guests to help themselves.
"The hotel breakfast was a smorgasbord of pastries, cold meats, and cheeses."
"Every dish at the wedding smorgasbord looked more tempting than the last."
2
By extension, any wide-ranging mixture or selection of things.
"The festival offered a smorgasbord of music styles, from jazz to punk."
How to use smorgasbord
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA big spread of food to pick and choose from, or loosely, any large variety of options.
Common pairings
a smorgasbord of options
a lavish smorgasbord
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Word forms
- Plural
- smorgasbords
Fill the gap
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The hotel breakfast was a _____ of pastries, cold meats, and cheeses.
Etymology
From Swedish smörgåsbord, literally "sandwich table" — smörgås ("sandwich" or "buttered bread") plus bord ("table").
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “smorgasbord” mean?
The word “smorgasbord” means a buffet-style spread of many different dishes laid out for guests to help themselves. In plain terms, a big spread of food to pick and choose from, or loosely, any large variety of options.
How do you pronounce “smorgasbord”?
“Smorgasbord” is pronounced SMAW-gas-bawd (/ˈsmɔɹɡəsˌbɔɹd/ in IPA).
How do you use “smorgasbord” in a sentence?
Here is “smorgasbord” used in a sentence: “The hotel breakfast was a smorgasbord of pastries, cold meats, and cheeses.”
What part of speech is “smorgasbord”?
“Smorgasbord” is a noun.
Where does the word “smorgasbord” come from?
The word “smorgasbord” comes from Swedish. From Swedish smörgåsbord, literally "sandwich table" — smörgås ("sandwich" or "buttered bread") plus bord ("table").
How many meanings does “smorgasbord” have?
“Smorgasbord” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a buffet-style spread of many different dishes laid out for guests to help themselves.
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