ratafias

Meanings

1. 1nounpluralold-fashioned

   Sweet liqueurs flavoured with fruit kernels, almonds or fruit.

   Grammar: Plural of ratafia; the singular can also be uncountable.

   Patterns

   • a glass of ratafia
   • fruit ratafias

   The host served several homemade ratafias after dinner.

   Cherry and apricot ratafias were popular in old country houses.

   She kept a shelf of ratafias made from fruit picked in summer.

2. 2nounpluralBritish

   Small, light almond-flavoured biscuits often served with wine or used in desserts.

   Grammar: Used for the biscuits: a plate of ratafias.

   Patterns

   • ratafia biscuits

   The trifle was topped with crushed ratafias.

   They served ratafias with tea at the village fair.

   Bakers once sold ratafias in tiny paper bags.

Word forms

Common combinations

cherry ratafias

The cherry ratafias were sweet and strong.

almond ratafias

She baked almond ratafias for the party.

homemade ratafias

The family sold homemade ratafias at the market.

ratafia biscuits

Ratafia biscuits are crisp and small.

Synonyms and how they differ

liqueurs

Liqueurs is the general word for sweet alcoholic drinks, while ratafias are a particular fruit or nut type.

cordials

Cordials may be non-alcoholic, whereas ratafias contain alcohol.

macaroons

Macaroons are larger and chewier, while ratafias are tiny and crisp.

Word family

ratafia noun

singular form of the drink or biscuit

liqueur noun

a sweet strong drink

almond noun

a type of nut

biscuit noun

a small baked treat

Commonly confused: ratafias or raffia?

Practice

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