buffet

¹

[buh-fey, boo-, boo-fey, buhf-it]

noun

1. 1. a variety of dishes presented in a line, from which diners in a restaurant serve themselves, usually at a fixed price regardless of how much one eats.

      The lavish all-you-can-eat buffet delivered a feast of salads, curries, pasta dishes, and sumptuous desserts for $40.

   2. a restaurant where food is presented in this way.

      They own one of the best high-end buffets in the country.

2. a meal laid out on one or more tables so that guests may serve themselves.

3. a sideboard or cabinet for holding china, table linen, etc.

4. a wide variety of things to choose from.

   The school’s internet safety workshop contains a buffet of ideas for parents in the 21st century.

5. a counter, bar, or the like, for lunch or refreshments.

6. a restaurant containing such a counter or bar.

adjective

1. consisting of food, refreshments, etc., laid out on tables or buffets from which guests or customers serve themselves: buffet service.

   a buffet supper;

   buffet service.

buffet

²

[buhf-it]

noun

1. a blow, as with the hand or fist.

2. a violent shock or concussion.

verb (used with object)

buffeted, buffeting 

1. to strike, as with the hand or fist.

   Synonyms: wallop, sock, hit, box, cuff, slap

2. to strike against or push repeatedly.

   The wind buffeted the house.

3. to contend against; battle.

verb (used without object)

buffeted, buffeting 

1. to struggle with blows of hand or fist.

2. to force one's way by a fight, struggle, etc.

buffet

¹

noun

1. a counter where light refreshments are served

2. 1. a meal at which guests help themselves from a number of dishes and often eat standing up

   2. ( as modifier )

      a buffet lunch

3. a piece of furniture used from medieval times to the 18th century for displaying plates, etc and typically comprising one or more cupboards and some open shelves

4. dialect,  a kind of low stool, pouffe, or hassock

buffet

²

/ ˈbʌfɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to knock against or about; batter

   the wind buffeted the boat

2. (tr) to hit, esp with the fist; cuff

3. to force (one's way), as through a crowd

4. (intr) to struggle; battle

noun

1. a blow, esp with a fist or hand

2. aerodynamic excitation of an aircraft structure by separated flows

Buffet

³

/ byfɛ /

noun

1. Bernard (bɛrnar). 1928–99, French painter and engraver. His works are characterized by sombre tones and thin angular forms

Other Word Forms

• buffeter noun
• unbuffeted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of buffet¹

First recorded in 1710–20; from French, Old French; of obscure origin

Origin of buffet²

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, Old French buffe “a blow” + -et -et

Word History and Origins

Origin of buffet¹

C18: from French, of unknown origin

Origin of buffet²

C13: from Old French buffeter , from buffet a light blow, from buffe , of imitative origin

Example Sentences

The buffeted reader must either hang on—or give up.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The state has been buffeted by a litany of layoffs this year from Hollywood to Silicon Valley — and beyond.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Worries about the AI trade that buffeted markets recently have weighed particularly heavily on Nvidia, a bellwether of investors’ enthusiasm for big tech.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The controversy is the latest in a series to buffet Deutsche Bank in the last decade or so.

Read more on MarketWatch

The big bank found that spending was up strongly on entertainment and arts for the month, which its economists said underscored consumers’ appetite for experiences even with the economic headwinds buffeting Canada.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• batter 
• clobber 
• jolt 
• pummel