café

¹

Or ca·fe

[ka-fey, kuh-, ka-fey]

noun

plural

cafés 

1. a small, unpretentious restaurant, often with exterior seating on a patio or extending onto the sidewalk.

   Synonyms: tearoom, lunchroom, bistro, coffeehouse

2. coffee.

   I pick up a café and a croissant on my commute in to work every morning.

CAFE

²

[ka-fey, kuh-]

noun

1. a U.S. federally mandated standard of average minimum miles-per-gallon fuel consumption for all the cars produced by an automobile manufacturer in a given year.

café

/ ˈkæfeɪ, ˈkæfɪ /

noun

1. a small or inexpensive restaurant or coffee bar, serving light meals and refreshments

2. a corner shop or grocer

Spelling Note

See resume ².

Word History and Origins

Origin of café¹

First recorded in 1780–90; from French: literally, “coffee”; coffee

Origin of café²

C(orporate) A(verage) F(uel) E(conomy)

Word History and Origins

Origin of café¹

C19: from French: _coffee

Example Sentences

So he opened Cafe Commerce on Lexington Avenue earlier this year.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Cafe Maud is a social-media favorite.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Cafe Maud is a social-media favorite.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Cafe Maud is a social-media favorite.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Cafe Maud is a social-media favorite.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bistro 
• cafeteria 
• coffee shop 
• diner