lunch

[luhnch]

noun

1. a light midday meal between breakfast and dinner; luncheon.

2. any light meal or snack.

3. a restaurant or lunchroom.

   Let's eat at the dairy lunch.

verb (used without object)

1. to eat lunch.

   We lunched quite late today.

verb (used with object)

1. to provide lunch for.

   They lunched us in regal fashion.

lunch

/ lʌntʃ /

noun

1. a meal eaten during the middle of the day

2. (among older people) mid-afternoon tea

verb

1. (intr) to eat lunch

2. (tr) to provide or buy lunch for

Other Word Forms

• luncher noun
• lunchless adjective
• prelunch adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lunch¹

First recorded in 1585–95; short for luncheon

Word History and Origins

Origin of lunch¹

C16: probably short form of _luncheon

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. out to lunch, not paying attention or tending to business; negligent.

   You must have been out to lunch when you wrote that weird report.

see eat someone alive (someone's lunch); free lunch; lose one's lunch; out to (lunch).

Example Sentences

After lunch, I set out from the airport on the mostly six-mile descent to Little Harbor campground.

From Los Angeles Times

The free event will give attendees the opportunity to network with community members, learn more about the work of Indigenous Pride L.A., enjoy a free lunch and voice any concerns about issues facing their communities.

From Los Angeles Times

Patterson's estranged husband, Simon Patterson, was meant to attend the lunch but cancelled at the last minute, in part due to his belief that his wife had been trying to poison him for years.

From BBC

In recent weeks, stung by criticism that she was aloof from her MPs, Badenoch has begun inviting in small groups for lunch.

From BBC

They have expanded their delivery service and branched out to providing Sunday lunches and children's meals.

From BBC