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Definition of espresso

espresso

/ɛˈsprɛsoʊ/
es · pres · so
Plural:espressos
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espresso Lexical Profile

espresso Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A strong, highly concentrated coffee prepared by forcing nearly boiling water under pressure through finely ground, dark-roasted coffee beans.

Example

"She ordered a double espresso to help her stay alert during the long afternoon meetings."

2

A single serving or cup of this concentrated coffee.

Example

"After dinner, they enjoyed a quick espresso before heading to the theater."

Word Nuance & Usage

Often misspelled and mispronounced as "expresso" due to its linguistic connection to the English word "express" and the fast nature of its preparation.

• Rhymes for espresso

• Nearby Words

esport
esports
espouse
espresso
esprit
esquire
essay

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Italian 'caffè espresso' (pressed-out coffee), derived from the past participle of 'esprimere' (to press out), ultimately from Latin 'exprimere'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Espresso. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/espresso
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