Epicure
/ˈɛpɪkjʊr/
nounC2
Definition
An epicure is someone who enjoys eating and drinking very good, high-quality food and drink. They often know a lot about different tastes and flavors and like to experience the best things in food. Being an epicure is about having a special interest in fine dining and good taste.
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See It in Action
A person who enjoys and has refined taste in food and drink
- •She is an epicure who always tries new restaurants and exotic dishes.
- •As an epicure, he appreciates the subtle flavors in fine wine.
- •Epicures often spend time learning about cooking and food history.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "epicure" like "food lover" (A1 word), but more serious and with more knowledge about taste and quality
- ✓Picture a person slowly tasting a delicious meal, noticing every flavor carefully
- ✓It's the feeling of pleasure when eating your favorite special dish or drinking a fine wine
- ✓Sounds like "EP-ih-cure" → imagine a doctor (cure) who treats people with the best food and drink to make them happy
- ✓Think of famous chefs or food critics who know a lot about food and enjoy tasting new dishes
- ✓NOT like "hungry" (just want to eat)—an epicure eats with pleasure and interest in taste
- ✓NOT like "fast eater" (quick and careless)—an epicure takes time to enjoy and understand food
- ✓NOT like "gourmet" (similar but gourmet often refers more to the food itself, while epicure refers to the person who loves and appreciates it)
Try Other Words
- •Gourmet: a person who enjoys and knows a lot about good food (Use when talking about high-quality food and the person appreciating it, similar to epicure but more common)
- •Connoisseur: an expert judge in matters of taste, especially food or drink (Use when emphasizing expert knowledge more than just enjoyment)
- •Food lover: someone who likes eating food (Use in casual contexts when deep knowledge is not necessary)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (No clear prefix or suffix; the word comes as a whole)
- •Etymology: From French "épicurien," from Latin "Epicurus," the name of a Greek philosopher who taught that pleasure is the highest good, especially simple pleasures like food and drink
- •Historical development: Originally linked to Epicurus’s philosophy about pleasure; later came to mean a person who enjoys fine food and drink
- •Modern usage: Used to describe people who enjoy and appreciate good food and drink with knowledge and care
Reflect & Connect
•How can being an epicure change the way you experience everyday meals?
•Can someone be an epicure without spending a lot of money on food? Why or why not?
Fill in the blanks
1.An epicure usually spends ___ time tasting and enjoying food, not just eating quickly.
2.Being an epicure means having a ___ interest in flavors and quality of food.
3.Unlike someone who is simply hungry, an epicure eats with ___ and appreciation.
4.A true epicure might travel to different countries to ___ new dishes and tastes.
5.Epicure often pairs well with words like "refined," "taste," and "pleasure," showing ___ in food.
6.When a person is called an epicure, we can infer they have ___ knowledge about food and drink.
7.Epicure is different from "fast eater" because an epicure ___ food carefully and slowly.