espresso
UK[eˈspresəʊ]US[eˈspresoʊ]
n
a strong black coffee made by forcing steam or boiling water through ground coffee beans.
Etymology
the word 'espresso' is a direct loanword from italian, where it literally means 'pressed out' or 'expressed', from the past participle of the verb 'esprimere' (to express). this refers to the method of preparation where hot water is forced under pressure through finely-ground coffee. the italian verb itself derives from latin 'exprimere', composed of 'ex-' (out) and 'premere' (to press). the term entered english in the mid-20th century, specifically naming both the brewing method and the resulting concentrated coffee beverage, distinguishing it from other coffee preparation styles.
Analysis
the word is a direct borrowing from italian and is not productively segmented into smaller, meaningful parts in english.
Examples
he starts every morning with a double espresso.
the authentic italian cafe serves a perfect, creamy espresso.
she added a shot of espresso to her milkshake for a caffeine boost.