latte
UK[ˈlæteɪ]US[ˈlɑːteɪ]
n
A hot drink made with espresso and steamed milk.
Etymology
The word 'latte' is a direct borrowing from Italian, where 'caffè latte' literally means 'milk coffee'. The Italian term 'latte' itself descends from the Latin word 'lac' (genitive 'lactis'), meaning 'milk'. This Latin root is widely preserved in Romance languages and has also given English related terms like 'lactose' and 'lactic'. In English, 'latte' was shortened from the full Italian phrase and entered common usage in the late 20th century with the global spread of espresso-based coffee culture, specifically denoting the coffee beverage rather than plain milk.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword from Italian. It is not productively segmented in English using native morphemes.
Examples
I start every morning with a large oat milk latte.
The café is known for its expertly crafted latte art.
She prefers a latte because it's less intense than a straight espresso.