à la carte

English

Alternative forms

• a la carte

Etymology

From French à la carte (“on the menu; according to the card”), see below

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /æ.ləˈkɑː(ɹ)t/, /æ.læˈkɑː(ɹ)t/, SAMPA: /{.l@"kA:(r)t/, /{.l{"kA:(r)t/
• Rhymes: -ɑː(r)t

Adjective

à la carte (not comparable)

1. (Food and drink) allowing selection from a fixed list of individually priced options shown on the menu

   The restaurant had a huge à la carte menu and four specials that day

Antonyms

• table d'hôte

Adverb

à la carte (not comparable)

1. By ordering individually priced items from the menu

   We ate à la carte as that was most economic

Antonyms

• table d'hôte

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Dutch

Etymology

From French, from à 'on' + la 'the' [used with feminine nouns only] + carte 'card, (price)list, menu' (from Latin charta 'papyrus leaf [to write on]', from Ancient Greek)

Adverb

à la carte

1. (Food and drink) allowing selection only from a fixed list of options, typically shown on a menu
2. (Food and drink) with each dish priced
3. (by extension) from any longlist of options, or even free choice, as opposed to a shortlist

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French

Etymology

à 'on' + la 'the' + carte 'card, (price)list, menu' (from Latin charta 'papyrus leaf [to write on]', from Ancient Greek)

Pronunciation

• IPA: /a.laˈkart/, SAMPA: /a.la"kart/

Adverb

à la carte

1. (Food and drink) allowing selection only from a fixed list of options, typically shown on a menu
2. (Food and drink) with each dish priced
3. (by extension) from any longlist of options, or even free choice, as opposed to a shortlist