noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈkɒkteɪl ˌfɔːk/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ˌkɑkˌteɪl ˈfɔɹk/
rhymes with -ɔːk
1
noun
Meaning 1
A small fork usually with two or three tines, used for eating dishes served as appetizers (such as fruit cocktails and shrimp cocktails), and for picking up olives and other small snacks.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From cocktail + fork; cocktail may refer either to: * a dish consisting of small pieces of fruit, vegetables, or seafood with a dressing, usually served chilled in a glass as an appetizer; or * a mixed alcohol beverage such as a martini, which is often garnished with an olive.
Across languages
Translations
2 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Polish:
widelczyk
— small fork used for eating dishes served as appetizers, and for picking up small snacks
Spanish:
tenedor para sándwich
— small fork used for eating dishes served as appetizers, and for picking up small snacks