dish

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 [C] a flat shallow container for cooking food in or serving it from: a glass dish * an ovenproof dish * a baking / serving dish * They helped themselves from a large dish of pasta. 2 (the dishes) [pl.] the plates, bowls, cups, etc. that have been used for a meal and need to be washed: I'll do the dishes (= wash them). 3 [C] food prepared in a particular way as part of a meal: a vegetarian / fish dish * This makes an excellent hot main dish. * I can recommend the chef's dish of the day. seealsoSIDEDISH 4 [C] any object that is shaped like a dish or bowl: a soap dish seealsoSATELLITEDISH 5 [C] (informal) a sexually attractive person: What a dish! verb IDIOMS dish the dirt (on sb) (informal) to tell people unkind or unpleasant things about sb, especially about their private life: She loves to dish the dirt on her sisters. PHRASALVERBS dish it out (disapproving) to criticize other people: He enjoys dishing it out, but he really can't take it (= cannot accept criticism from other people). dish sth<->out 1 (informal) to give sth, often to a lot of people or in large amounts: Students dished out leaflets to passers-by. * She's always dishing out advice, even when you don't want it. 2 to serve food onto plates for a meal: Can you dish out the potatoes please? dish up