epicure

Meanings

1. A person who takes great pleasure in fine food and drink.
2. A person devoted to sensual pleasure (archaic).

Example sentences

• "Only a true epicure would notice the difference between the two oils."

  Level C2, Meaning 1

• "She is an epicure who plans every trip around its restaurants."

  Level C1, Meaning 1

• "The magazine is written for epicures and wine lovers."

  Level C1, Meaning 1

• "An epicure would not eat a meal that was rushed or bland."

  Level C2, Meaning 1

Synonyms and antonyms

Look-alikes and common mistakes

• gourmet : A gourmet is a person with expert taste in food, or a word for high quality food. Epicure is more formal.
• gourmand : A gourmand loves to eat, often in large amounts. An epicure values quality.
• glutton : A glutton eats too much. An epicure is refined, not greedy.
• epicurean : Epicurean is the adjective, and it can also be a noun with the same meaning as epicure.

Word family and forms

Forms: epicures

Word partners

Words and phrases that often go with "epicure".

• a true epicure
• food epicure
• an epicure of fine wine
• a self-confessed epicure
• epicurean tastes

Origin

Epicure comes from Epicurus, the name of an ancient Greek philosopher, through the Latin word Epicureus for one of his followers. The word has been in English since the 1300s, and the meaning of a person devoted to pleasure is recorded from the 1500s. Today it most often means a person of refined taste in food and drink.

Checked against: Wiktionary, the free dictionary, Dictionary.com.

How to remember it

Picture a diner who tastes a dish slowly, names every herb in it and talks about the wine. That diner is an epicure.

Test yourself

Learn next at C2

• epistemological Relating to the theory of knowledge, especially how we know what we kn...
• equanimity A calm, composed state of mind, especially in a difficult situation.
• equivocate To use vague or ambiguous language to avoid giving a clear or committi...
• ersatz Made or used as a substitute, usually of lower quality than the real t...
• eulogy A speech or piece of writing that praises someone, especially one who...
• euphony A pleasant, harmonious sound, especially in speech or music.