latte

/ˈlætɪsˌwʌrk/

/ˈlæteɪ/

Other forms: lattes

A latte is a milky espresso drink you can order at most American cafes. Many lattes have delicate patterns or pictures drawn in the creamy foam on top.

The full name of a latte is "caffe latte," which means "milk coffee" in Italian. Other countries have variations on this idea, from France's "café au lait" to Germany's "Milchkaffee." While Caffè latte was used in Italy for milky coffee drinks made in people's homes, it wasn't found until very recently on cafe menus — the latte is more of an American invention. If you order a latte in Italy, in fact, what you'll get is a glass of milk.

Definitions of latte

1. noun

   strong espresso coffee with a topping of frothed steamed milk
   synonyms: caffe latte

   type of:

   espresso

   strong black coffee brewed by forcing hot water under pressure through finely ground coffee beans