tapas

Definitions

1. A variety of Spanish small savoury food items or snacks such as croquettes, cured meat, potato salad, and seafood, originally served with sherry and now often with other alcoholic beverages as well.
   plural, plural-normally
2. (The practice of) asceticism and self-discipline.
   Hinduism, Jainism, uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“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.”

“Most food scholars agree⟳ that the tapas tradition originated in the wine-growing regions of Andalusia, eventually spreading throughout the country. The Moors (Muslim Arabs), who dominated Spain from the beginning of the eighth century until the end⟳ of the fifteenth century, settled in the same area, and their meze tradition undoubtedly had an influence⟳ on the rise⟳ of the tapa.”

CEFR level