meze

This term describes a dining style centered on social sharing and variety rather than a single main course. It carries a connotation of leisure and hospitality, often associated with long meals and conversation in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cultures.

While the word can refer to the collective spread of food, it is frequently used to describe the individual small plates themselves. In English usage, it is often treated as a collective noun, though it can be pluralized when referring to specific, distinct types of appetizers.