noun
la collation
snack
Definition & meaning
The French word collation generally refers to a light meal or a snack, typically eaten between main meals or late at night. It is often associated with something modest, simple, and quick to consume.
In a different context, particularly in the fields of bibliography, archives, or law, collation refers to the act of verifying or comparing a copy of a document against the original to ensure accuracy, or the act of assembling pages of a book in the correct order.
Grammar & Word origin
Grammar:
- Part of speech: Noun, feminine (une collation).
Word origin:
- The term comes from the Old French collation, which originated from the Latin collatio (meaning a bringing together, a contribution, or a comparison).
- Historically, the culinary meaning emerged from the practice in monasteries where a small, light reading was given during the evening meal, eventually shifting to refer to the meal itself, which was often modest to maintain fasting requirements.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- For the culinary meaning: en-cas, goûter, casse-croûte, grignotage.
- For the verification meaning: comparaison, vérification, rapprochement.
Antonyms:
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Examples
Je prends une collation.noun
I am having a snack.
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