An hors d'oeuvre (/ɔːr ˈdɜːrv, ˈdɜːrvrᵊ/; French: hors d'œuvre [ɔʁ dœvʁ] ( listen)), appetizer,[1] or starter[2] is a small dish served before a meal.[3] Some hors d'oeuvres are served cold, others hot.[4] Hors d'oeuvres may be served at the dinner table, or in the bedroom, as a part of the meal or they may be served before seating. Formerly, hors d'oeuvres were also served between courses.[5]
Typically smaller than a main dish, it is often designed to be eaten by hand (with minimal use of cutlery)