dinner

[ din-er ]

noun

1. the main meal of the day, eaten in the evening or at midday.
2. a formal meal in honor of some person or occasion.
3. table d'hôte.

dinner

/ ˈdɪnə /

noun

1. a meal taken in the evening
2. a meal taken at midday, esp when it is the main meal of the day; lunch
3. 1. a formal evening meal, as of a club, society, etc
   2. a public banquet in honour of someone or something
4. a complete meal at a fixed price in a restaurant; table d'hôte
5. modifier of, relating to, or used at dinner

   dinner table

   dinner hour

   dinner plate

6. do like a dinner informal.
   usually passive to do for, overpower, or outdo

Other Words From

• dinner·less adjective
• pre·dinner noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dinner¹

1250–1300; Middle English diner < Old French disner (noun use of v.); dine

Word History and Origins

Origin of dinner¹

C13: from Old French disner; see dine

Example Sentences

We were eating dinner by kerosene lantern light, as the hydroelectric plant no longer generated electricity, when it sounded.

From Popular-Science

For some reason, I wanted carrots and peas that night as part of our dinner.

From Ozy

With six wash cycles, you can get your whole dinner plates set in there along with your silverware.

From Popular-Science

Energy demand tends to spike at night, when people are cooking dinner and cooling off at bedtime.

From Voice of San Diego

We fell into a routine of building a morning fire, cooking together, and talking over dinner, sharing our fears and the events of the day.

From MIT Technology Review

Eva Silverman, who co-hosts an Oakland Dinner Party, agrees.

From The Daily Beast

Though tissues are present and tears are not uncommon, the Dinner Parties are distinctly not grief counseling or group therapy.

From The Daily Beast

Those who come to the Dinner Party are self-selecting; they do want to talk about it.

From The Daily Beast

Talking about death is never easy, but with food, comfort, and familiarity, a new kind of dinner party is making it easier.

From The Daily Beast

Kyle Dietrich, 36, is a host of one of the DC Dinner Parties.

From The Daily Beast

It was Wednesday night; over forty men sat down to the house-dinner at the Pandemonium Club.

From Project Gutenberg

As usual the dinner was recherché, for the Pandemonium chef enjoyed a world-wide reputation.

From Project Gutenberg

Dinner occurred in the middle of the day, and about nine in the evening was an informal but copious supper.

From Project Gutenberg

Then a nervous, anxious feeling that takes away my appetite, and prevents me from eating my dinner.

From Project Gutenberg

It is to be feared that the attractions of the house-dinner were not the sole inducement to many of those sitting there.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• banquet
• feast
• supper