dinner

[ din-er ]
See synonyms for dinner on Thesaurus.com
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.

Origin of dinner

1
1250–1300; Middle English diner<Old French disner (noun use of v.); see dine

Other words from dinner

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

Words that may be confused with dinner

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

How to use dinner in a sentence

  • A system of supplying school-children with penny dinners is the latest philanthropic movement.

    Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham | Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
  • He remembers the good dinners at the little restaurant near his studio, where they dined among the old crowd.

    The Real Latin Quarter | F. Berkeley Smith
  • And those memorable dinners in the old studio back of the Gare Montparnasse!

    The Real Latin Quarter | F. Berkeley Smith
  • In ten minutes the veranda became a regular parliament of monkeys chattering over their dinners.

    Kari the Elephant | Dhan Gopal Mukerji
  • Twice he had dined at the White House, and his name was frequently in the list of guests at other dinners and functions.

    Ancestors | Gertrude Atherton

British Dictionary definitions for dinner

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

    • a formal evening meal, as of a club, society, etc

    • a public banquet in honour of someone or something

  1. a complete meal at a fixed price in a restaurant; table d'hôte

  2. (modifier) of, relating to, or used at dinner: dinner plate; dinner table; dinner hour

  3. do like a dinner (usually passive) Australian informal to do for, overpower, or outdo

Origin of dinner

1
C13: from Old French disner; see dine

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