1 [count] a : a shallow container that you cook or serve food in
▪ a baking/serving dish [=a container used to bake/serve food] ▪ a casserole/pie dish [=a container used to bake a casserole/pie] ; specifically : a shallow bowl
▪ a candy dish [=a container used to serve candy] ▪ the cat's food/water dish
b : the food served in a dish
▪ a dish of strawberries ▪ a small dish of ice cream 2 [count] : food that is prepared in a particular way
▪ Each person made a dish for the potluck supper. ▪ The restaurant serves some of my favorite dishes. ▪ a fish/pasta/potato dish [=food that has fish/pasta/potatoes as a main ingredient] ▪ The main dish [=the biggest dish of a meal] was poached salmon, and it was served with a side dish [=a food that is served at the same time as the main dish] of spinach. 3 dishes [plural] : all the things (such as plates, forks, glasses, pans, cooking utensils, etc.) that are used to prepare, serve, and eat a meal
▪ We piled all the dishes in the sink after dinner. ▪ Will you wash the breakfast dishes, please? ▪ a sink full of dirty dishes ▪ It's your turn to do the dishes. [=wash the dishes] 4 [count] a : a shallow container that holds something other than food
▪ a soap dish
b : something that is shaped like a shallow bowl
▪ Do you have cable TV or a dish? [=an antenna shaped like a dish that receives television signals from a satellite] ▪ a dish antenna — see also petri dish, satellite dish 5 [singular] informal + old-fashioned : a sexually attractive person
▪ I hear your cousin is a dish. [=hottie]