tapas
tapas Lexical Profile
tapas Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Small Spanish savory dishes, typically served as appetizers or snacks alongside drinks at a bar.
"We went to a vibrant Spanish restaurant downtown and ordered a variety of tapas, including patatas bravas, garlic shrimp, and cured meats."
In Hinduism, Jainism, and yoga traditions, the ascetic practice of self-discipline, austerity, and deep meditation, often conceptualized as a purifying inner heat or fire.
"Through the daily dedicated practice of yoga and tapas, the ascetic sought to purify his mind and burn away past karma."
Word Nuance & Usage
This word functions as a homograph in English: it is most commonly used as a plural count noun referring to Spanish appetizers, but is also used as an uncountable singular noun in yoga and Indian philosophy to denote spiritual discipline.
• Rhymes for tapas
Word Origin & Etymology
The culinary term comes from Spanish 'tapas', the plural of 'tapa' (cover or lid), referring to an old Andalusian tradition of placing a slice of bread or meat over a drink to protect it from fruit flies. The unrelated spiritual term derives from Sanskrit 'tapas', meaning 'heat' or 'fire'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.