Tapas

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈtæp.æs/, /ˈtæp.É™s/
• US IPA: /ˈtæp.É™s/, /ˈtɑːp.É™s/

Origin

From Spanish tapas, plural of tapa, with original sense of “top”.

Full definition of tapas

Noun

1. Variety of Spanish small food items or snacks originally served with sherry.
• 1986, Jeff Smith (TV personality), The Frugal Gourmet Cooks with Wine:The snacks are called tapas because in the old days a piece of toast was served, too, so that you might have a "top" on your glass of sherry, a lid that would prevent the flies from getting into the glass.
2. Small food items generally.Izakaya food is basically Japanese tapas.

Synonyms

• small plate, small plates (see small plates)

Anagrams

• pasta
• patas