cafeteria

American  

[kaf-i-teer-ee-uh] / ˌkæf ɪˈtɪər i ə /

noun

1. a restaurant in which patrons wait on themselves, carrying their food to tables from counters where it is displayed and served.

2. a lunchroom or dining hall, as in a factory, office, or school, where food is served from counters or dispensed from vending machines or where food brought from home may be eaten.

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cafeteria British  

/ ˌkæfɪˈtɪərɪə /

noun

1. a self-service restaurant

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Etymology

Origin of cafeteria

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; from Latin American Spanish cafetería “café,” Spanish cafeter(a) “coffeemaker,” from French caf(f)etière (equivalent to café + etière feminine of -ier ); t apparently by analogy with words such as bouquetière “flower seller,” from bases ending in t ) + -ía; coffee, -ier ²

Example Sentences

The researchers compare it to guiding students through a cafeteria line one at a time rather than letting them move as a crowd.

From Science Daily

He said in addition to his normal duties, he had been serving burgers in the school cafeteria "because the number of staff available has been so poor".

From BBC

I fill her in on everything as we head to the cafeteria.

From Literature

This would get the attention of his brother Fernando, separated by glass offices and the trading floor, and the brothers would head to the 11th floor cafeteria together for lunch.

From The Wall Street Journal

Students and parents said the floating blue lockers and cafeteria murals are the same as in the movie.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• lunchroom
• snack bar