epicure
/ˈɛp.ɪ.kjʊə/ IELTSAcademic
noun
An epicure is a person who enjoys fine food and drink. The word often suggests careful taste and pleasure in eating, not just eating a lot.
- He is an epicure who loves good wine.
- The restaurant attracts epicures and food lovers.
- She became an epicure after years of fine dining.
Adinary Nuance
An epicure is not just a gourmet. Gourmet often describes the food, chef, or restaurant; epicure describes the person with refined taste. It is more literary and less common in everyday speech than foodie.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- Người sành ăn
- Spanish
- Gourmet
- Chinese
- 美食家
- Japanese
- 美食家
- Korean
- 미식가
Etymology
Ep icure comes from Latin epicurus, from Greek Epikouros, the name of the philosopher Epicurus. In English, it began to mean a person who enjoys food and drink.
Common phrases
an epicure of fine foodthe epicure's palateepicurean tastes
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is epicure a formal word?
- Yes, it is fairly formal and literary. People more often say foodie in modern speech.
- What is the difference between epicure and gourmet?
- An epicure is the person. A gourmet is often the food, meal, or person with expert taste.
- Can I use epicure in business writing?
- Yes, but it may sound old-fashioned. Use it when you want a refined or elegant tone.
- Is epicure a common word?
- No, it is not very common in everyday English. Many speakers will understand it, but not use it often.