cater

[key-ter]

verb (used without object)

1. to provide food, service, etc., as for a party or wedding.

   to cater for a banquet.

2. to provide or supply what amuses, is desired, or gives pleasure, comfort, etc. (usually followed by to orfor ).

   to cater to popular demand; to cater to an invalid.

   Synonyms: please, indulge, humor

verb (used with object)

1. to provide food and service for.

   to cater a party.

cater

/ ˈkeɪtə /

verb

1. (intr; foll by for or to) to provide what is required or desired (for)

   to cater for a need

   cater to your tastes

2. to provide food, services, etc (for)

   we cater for parties

   to cater a banquet

Other Word Forms

• cateringly adverb
• uncatered adjective
• uncatering adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cater¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; verb use of obsolete cater, Middle English catour, variant of acatour “buyer,” from Anglo-French, from acat(er) “to buy” ( cate ) + -our -or ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of cater¹

C16: from earlier catour purchaser, variant of acatour, from Anglo-Norman acater to buy, ultimately related to Latin acceptāre to _accept

Example Sentences

The company, which catered to customers with little or no credit history or no Social Security number, faces allegations of fraud in its dealings with banks.

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The carrier caters to higher-earning consumers who are still spending despite signs of turmoil in the economy and seeking out travel.

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Wallace runs the catering company she founded in Ypsilanti, Mich., and she relies on the federal help to cover most of the monthly $560 premium for her Affordable Care Act health plan.

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For Miniso, the hope is that it can cash in on the trend of Chinese consumers placing greater value on products and services that cater to their personal interests and emotional well-being.

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What’s emerging is a new class of synthetic social media platforms that enable users to create, share and discover AI-generated content in a bespoke feed, catering to an individual’s tastes.

Read more on Los Angeles Times