cater

[ key-ter ]
See synonyms for cater on Thesaurus.com
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 or for): to cater to popular demand; to cater to an invalid.

verb (used with object)
  1. to provide food and service for: to cater a party.

Origin of cater

1
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” (see cate) + -our -or2

Other words for cater

Other words from cater

  • ca·ter·ing·ly, adverb
  • un·ca·tered, adjective
  • un·ca·ter·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for cater

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. (when intr, foll by for) to provide food, services, etc (for): we cater for parties; to cater a banquet

Origin of cater

1
C16: from earlier catour purchaser, variant of acatour, from Anglo-Norman acater to buy, ultimately related to Latin acceptāre to accept

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012