cuisine
gb/kwɪzˈin/ us/kwɪzˈin/
B2
English
~ 7000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
style of cooking from a place
A special way of cooking that is typical of a country, place, or culture.
Usage pattern:
[country/region] cuisine; the cuisine of [a place]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "cuisine" to mean any food in general (e.g., *"I bought some cuisine"*). It is usually used with a modifier to talk about a style of cooking, especially from a country or region (e.g., "Chinese cuisine", "local cuisine"). Another confusion comes from French, where "cuisine" can mean "kitchen"; in English, it almost never means the physical room.
Synonyms
cooking (More general and informal; does not always suggest a specific cultural style.)
|
food (Very general; refers to what is eaten, not specifically to a style or tradition of preparing it.)
|
gastronomy (More formal and academic; often suggests the study or appreciation of fine cooking.)
Antonyms
fast food (Suggests quick, standardized food with little cultural or traditional cooking style.)
Collocations
Italian cuisine
|local cuisine
|regional cuisine
|traditional cuisine
|fusion cuisine
|ethnic cuisine
Themes
food
|culture
|travel
|food_drink
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Italian cuisine is popular all over the world.
- We tried the local cuisine when we visited Thailand.
- Mexican cuisine uses a lot of chili peppers and corn.
- The restaurant serves modern French cuisine with an Asian twist.
- I enjoy exploring different cuisines when I travel.
Learner examples
- I love Japanese cuisine.
- This city is famous for its seafood cuisine.
- We want to taste the local cuisine on our trip.
- Thai cuisine is often very spicy.
- Indian cuisine has many vegetarian dishes.
Noun
B2
entity
2
restaurant’s style and quality of food
The kind and quality of food that a restaurant or chef makes.
Usage pattern:
the cuisine at [a restaurant/place]; [a restaurant] offers [adjective] cuisine
Common mistake:
Learners may think this use always needs a country adjective (like "Italian" or "Thai"). In reviews, "the cuisine" often just means the style and quality of the restaurant’s food without naming a country (e.g., "The cuisine is excellent").
Synonyms
fare (Refers to the food offered by a restaurant; slightly more literary or formal.)
|
menu (Means the list of dishes available, not directly the style and quality, but often used to talk about what a restaurant serves.)
Antonyms
poor food (Highlights low quality of what a place serves, opposite to good or high-quality cuisine.)
Collocations
fine cuisine
|excellent cuisine
|gourmet cuisine
|the cuisine at this restaurant
|simple cuisine
Themes
food
|daily life
|travel
|food_drink
|daily_life
Examples
- The hotel’s cuisine is surprisingly good for the price.
- That bistro is famous for its simple, seasonal cuisine.
- The cuisine at this new place is creative but still comforting.
- Although the décor was plain, the cuisine was outstanding.
- We chose the restaurant mainly for its vegetarian-friendly cuisine.
Learner examples
- The cuisine at this restaurant is very good.
- People come here for the excellent cuisine.
- Their cuisine is simple but tasty.
- I like the cuisine in this small café.
- The hotel offers international cuisine for its guests.
Noun
archaic
C2
entity
3
kitchen (old use, from French)
Old use: a kitchen, the room where you cook food.
Common mistake:
Learners who know French may incorrectly use "cuisine" to mean "kitchen" in modern English. In current English, say "kitchen" for the room and use "cuisine" mainly to talk about styles of cooking.
Synonyms
kitchen (The normal, modern word for this room in English; "cuisine" with this meaning is now very rare.)
Antonyms
dining room (A room where food is eaten rather than cooked; functionally opposite within a house.)
Collocations
castle cuisine
|palace cuisine
|royal cuisine
Themes
food
|home
|housing
|food_drink
|daily_life
Examples
- In some older texts, "cuisine" is used to mean the kitchen itself.
- The servants worked long hours in the château’s cuisine.
- In nineteenth-century novels, the family seldom enters the cuisine.
Learner examples
- In old books, "cuisine" can mean a kitchen.
- Today we say "kitchen", not "cuisine", for the room.
- This meaning of "cuisine" is old and not common now.
Grammar
Expressions
ethnic cuisine
3/ˈɛθnɪk kwɪzˈin/
fixed phrase
cuisine from a specific cultural group
Food and cooking from a particular culture or country, usually one that is different from the main local culture.
Examples
- The market sells ingredients for many types of ethnic cuisine.
- The show explores ethnic cuisine and the stories behind traditional dishes.
fine cuisine
7/fˈaɪn kwɪzˈin/
fixed phrase
high-quality style of cooking
Very good, high-quality cooking, usually in better restaurants.
Examples
- The city has a strong reputation for fine cuisine.
- Guests can enjoy fine cuisine in the hotel’s rooftop restaurant.
gourmet cuisine
6/ɡˈʊɹmˌeɪ kwɪzˈin/
fixed phrase
high-quality food for food lovers
Very high-quality food, made with care, for people who love and understand good food.
Examples
- They offer gourmet cuisine using only organic ingredients.
- The small hotel is known for its gourmet cuisine and excellent wine list.
haute cuisine
8/hˈoʊt kwɪzˈin/
fixed phrase
formal
very fine, high-class cooking
Very fine, high-quality cooking with complex dishes, usually in expensive restaurants or hotels.
Examples
- The restaurant became famous for its innovative haute cuisine.
- He trained in Paris and specializes in classic French haute cuisine.
local cuisine
1/lˈoʊkəl kwɪzˈin/
fixed phrase
typical food of the local area
The usual food and cooking style of the place where you are.
Examples
- We always try the local cuisine when we travel.
- The guide recommended a small restaurant where we could sample the local cuisine.
national cuisine
5/nˈæʃnəl kwɪzˈin/
fixed phrase
typical cooking of a country
The usual way of cooking in a whole country.
Examples
- Rice plays an important role in the national cuisine.
- The book compares the national cuisines of several European countries.
Nouvelle Cuisine
9/nˌuvˈɛl kwɪzˈin/
fixed phrase
formal
modern, light French cooking style
A modern style of French cooking with light dishes, fresh food, and beautiful presentation.
Examples
- Nouvelle Cuisine changed the way many chefs think about flavor and presentation.
- In the 1970s, Nouvelle Cuisine became popular in top French restaurants.
regional cuisine
4/ɹˈid͡ʒənəl kwɪzˈin/
fixed phrase
traditional cooking of a region
The usual way of cooking in one part of a country.
Examples
- The tour focuses on the regional cuisine of northern Italy.
- Her cookbook highlights regional cuisine from across China.
traditional cuisine
2/tɹədˈɪʃənəl kwɪzˈin/
fixed phrase
long-established style of cooking
Old, usual ways of cooking in a culture, often passed from older people to younger people.
Examples
- The festival celebrates the region’s traditional cuisine.
- She prefers traditional cuisine to modern experimental dishes.
fusion cuisine
1/fjˈuʒən kwɪzˈin/
fixed phrase
cooking that mixes food traditions
Food style where a cook mixes cooking ideas and ingredients from different countries or cultures.
Examples
- The city is famous for its creative fusion cuisine.
- The city is known for its creative fusion cuisine.
- We tried a restaurant that serves French–Vietnamese fusion cuisine.
- We tried a fusion cuisine restaurant that mixed Japanese and Peruvian flavors.