dinnerdin‧ner /ˈdɪnə $ -ər/ ●●● S1 W2 noun 
What time do you usually have dinner? We’re having fish for dinner tonight. What's for dinner?2[countable] a formal occasion when an evening meal is eaten, often to celebrate something: the Club’s annual dinner → dog’s dinner at dog1(9), → more something than you’ve had hot dinners at hot1(30)GRAMMAR: Patterns with dinnerfor dinner• You eat something for dinner: · We had fish for dinner. ✗Don’t say: We had fish at dinner.at dinner• You use at dinner to talk about something that happens while you are eating dinner: · She told us at dinner that she was going away.COLLOCATIONSverbshave/eat dinner· Why don't you come and have dinner with us?make/cook dinner· I offered to cook dinner.have something for dinner· I thought we might have pasta for dinner tonight.have somebody for/to dinner· We're having a few friends round to dinner.ask/invite somebody to dinner· Let's ask Kate and Mike to dinner.come for/to dinner· Mark is coming over for dinner.go out for/to dinner (=go and eat in a restaurant)· Would you like to go out for dinner on Saturday?serve dinner (=start giving people food)· Dinner is served between 7 and 11 pm in the hotel restaurant.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + dinnera three-course/four-course etc dinner· The cost of the hotel includes a three-course dinner.Sunday/Christmas/Thanksgiving dinner (=a special meal eaten on Sunday etc)· We usually have a walk after Christmas dinner.a romantic dinner (=for two people in a romantic relationship)· Clive and Denise were enjoying a romantic dinner for two in a quiet French restaurant.a candle-lit dinner (=with only candles for lighting)· Chris treated his girlfriend to a candle-lit dinner.a leisurely dinner (=not hurried)· I enjoy having a leisurely dinner with some friends at the weekend.a black-tie dinner (=where people wear special formal clothes)· He was invited to a black-tie dinner at one of the Oxford colleges.a slap-up dinner British English informal (=with a lot of good food)· Mum always makes a slap-up dinner for me when I go home.school dinners British English (=meals provided at school in the middle of the day)· School dinners are served in the canteen.TV dinners (=meals that you eat while watching TV)· TV dinners in aluminium containers can be found in the freezer departments of many supermarkets.dinner + NOUNa dinner party (=when someone's friends are invited for a special evening meal)· We are having a dinner party on Saturday.a dinner guest· The dinner guests began arriving at about seven o'clock.
WORD ORIGINdinner
Origin:
1200-1300 Old French diner, from diner ‘to eat’; ➔ DINEEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Allen and Wanda celebrated their anniversary at a dinner hosted by their children.
- Ann and I attended a dinner at the City Chamber of Commerce.
- At dinner, he announced that he was leaving home.
- He comes home for his dinner, then goes back to the factory.
- In one of my less lucid moments, I had volunteered to host Thanksgiving dinner.
- Sarah cooked us a really nice dinner.
- Shall we discuss this over dinner?
- She had a ticket for a dinner and fashion show at the Castle Hotel.
- She used to hate school dinners.
- We had some friends round for Sunday dinner.
- We went out for dinner at the Ritz.
- What shall we have for dinner?
- Why don't you come and have dinner with us?
- After all, she was to have treated Letia to dinner.
- Assuming that Fred's wife has accepted the dinner invitation, have they made a contract? 2.
- I believe we shall take dinner in Bapaume.
- She had not enjoyed the dinner.
- Since the pregame dinner at three, Sandie has told everyone who will listen just how scared she is.
- We had finished dinner and were waiting for the bill.
- Why not expect her to go to his memorial dinner?
THESAURUStypes of meal
a meal that you eat in the morning
a meal that you eat in the late morning, instead of breakfast or lunch
a meal that you eat in the middle of the day
British English a meal that you eat in the afternoon or evening
the main meal of the day, which most people eat in the evening
a small meal that you eat in the evening, in British English; the main meal that you eat in the evening, in American English
a meal that you eat outdoors, consisting of food that you cooked or prepared earlier
a meal that you cook outdoors over hot coals or wood and eat outdoors
a small amount of food that is eaten between main meals or instead of a meal
food eaten with the main course, such as vegetables: · I’ll have the salad as a side dish.
one of the separate parts of a meal, such as the starter or the dessert: · a three-course meal
Longman Language Activatora meal in the evening the meal you eat in the evening: · What shall we have for dinner?· Sarah cooked us a really nice dinner.· At dinner, he announced that he was leaving home.· Shall we discuss this over dinner?go out for dinner (=go to a restaurant or to someone else's house): · We went out for dinner at the Ritz.eat/have dinner: · Why don't you come and have dinner with us?
especially British the meal you eat in the evening: · After supper we watched a video.eat/have (your) supper: · I had my supper and went to bed.
British a meal you eat at home early in the evening: · What's for tea?have (your) tea: · The children came home from school, had tea and did their homework.
the meal eaten in the evening: · After the evening meal they sat around the cooking-fire and talked.· Preparing the evening meal can take up to three hours.
a meal in the middle of the day the meal you eat in the middle of the day: · At work we are allowed one hour for lunch.· See you after lunch.eat/have lunch: · Shall we have lunch before we go out?a late/an early lunch: · We had an early lunch and spent the afternoon shopping.Sunday lunch British: · We always have roast beef for Sunday lunch.
especially British the meal eaten in the middle of the day. This word is also used for large meals eaten in the middle of the day on Sundays or holidays.: · He comes home for his dinner, then goes back to the factory.school dinner (=a dinner which is provided for children at school): · She used to hate school dinners.Sunday/Christmas/Thanksgiving dinner: · We had some friends round for Sunday dinner.· In one of my less lucid moments, I had volunteered to host Thanksgiving dinner.
British /noon meal American the meal eaten in the middle of the day - use this especially when describing what happens in other countries: · In Spain, the midday meal almost always starts with tomato salad.· The noon meal was carried out to the fields where the harvesters were working.
a formal meal a formal meal in your home when you invite friends or guests: · He is a charming man, the kind of person you would want to sit next to at a dinner party.have a dinner party: · We're having a dinner party on Tuesday. Would you like to come?
a formal evening meal for a large number of people, especially in a public place such as a hotel: · She had a ticket for a dinner and fashion show at the Castle Hotel.· Ann and I attended a dinner at the City Chamber of Commerce.
a special formal meal with a lot of very good food and a large number of people, especially important people, which usually takes place on a special public occasion: · A huge banquet was planned to celebrate the city's millennium.· a state banquet hosted by the French Prime Minister
a formal meal in the middle of the day for a large number of people, especially in a public place such as a hotel: · Over 200 attended the Women in Journalism luncheon last Tuesday.
WORD SETSabalone, nounacetic acid, nounadditive, nounaftertaste, nounà la carte, adjectiveal dente, adjectivealfresco, adjectiveambrosia, nounangelica, nounaniseed, nounantipasto, nounappetizer, nounarrowroot, nounbad, adjectivebaker, nounbaking powder, nounbaking soda, nounbanana split, nounbanger, nounbanquet, nounbanqueting hall, nounbarbie, nounbarley, nounbasil, nounbass, nounbatch, nounbay leaf, nounBBQ, nounbean, nounbean curd, nounbeansprout, nounbeef, nounbeefburger, nounbeefsteak, nounbeet, nounbell pepper, nounberry, nounbetel, nounbetel nut, nounbicarbonate of soda, nounbilberry, nounbill of fare, nounbinge, nounbinge, verbbistro, nounblackberry, nounblack-eyed bean, nounblack pepper, nounblack pudding, nounblend, verbblend, nounblueberry, nounboard, nounbolt, verbbone, verbbon vivant, nounbony, adjectivebox lunch, nounbramble, nounbran, nounbrandy butter, nounbrasserie, nounbrawn, nounbreakfast, nounbrisket, nounbroiler, nounbroiler chicken, nounbroth, nounbrown rice, nounbrunch, nounbubble gum, nounbuckwheat, nounbuffet, nounbun, nounbus, verbbusboy, nounbutcher, nounbutcher, verbbutchery, nounbuttercream, nounbutty, nouncafé, nouncafeteria, nouncaff, nouncaffeine, nouncake, nouncan, verbcandy, nouncanned, adjectivecapon, nouncapsicum, nouncaraway, nouncarbohydrate, nouncare package, nouncarvery, nouncassava, nouncater, verbcaterer, nouncatering, nouncatsup, nouncatwalk, nouncayenne pepper, nouncereal, nouncheese, nounchef, nouncherry tomato, nounchickpea, nounchilli, nounChinese, nounchip shop, nounchives, nounchocolate, nounchocolatey, adjectiveChristmas dinner, nounchuck steak, nouncitric acid, nouncitron, nounclotted cream, nounclub sandwich, nouncob, nouncobbler, nouncocoa, nouncocoa bean, nouncoconut milk, nouncoffee house, nouncoffee shop, nouncold cuts, nouncold storage, nouncold store, nouncommissary, nounconcentrate, nouncondensed milk, nouncondiment, nouncone, nounconfection, nounconfectioner, nounconfectioner's sugar, nounconfectionery, nounconserve, nouncontent, nouncontinental breakfast, nounconvenience food, nouncook-chill, adjectivecooker, nouncookie, nouncooking, nouncooking oil, nouncorn bread, nouncorn chip, nouncorncob, nouncorned beef, nouncornet, nouncornflakes, nouncornflour, nouncornmeal, nouncorn on the cob, nouncorn pone, nouncornstarch, nouncorn syrup, nouncottage cheese, nouncotton candy, nouncourgette, nouncourse, nouncover charge, nouncrab, nouncrab apple, nouncracker, nouncrackling, nouncranberry, nouncrayfish, nouncream, nouncream cheese, nouncream cracker, nouncreamer, nouncreamy, adjectivecress, nouncrisp, nouncrisp, adjectivecrispbread, nouncrispy, adjectivecroissant, nouncroquette, nouncrouton, nouncrumb, nouncrumpet, nouncrunchy, adjectivecrust, nouncrusty, adjectivecrystallized, adjectivecucumber, nouncud, nouncuisine, nouncupcake, nouncurd, nouncurdle, verbcurrant, nouncustard, nouncut, nouncutlet, noundainty, nounDanish pastry, noundate, noundefrost, verbdelicacy, noundemerara sugar, noundesiccated, adjectivedevilled, adjectivedevour, verbdiabetic, adjectivedigest, verbdigestible, adjectivedill, noundill pickle, noundine, verbdiner, noundining car, noundinner, noundinner dance, noundinner party, noundinner theater, noundinnertime, noundissolve, verbdoggy bag, noundoily, noundollop, noundough, noundown, verbdrain, verbdredge, verbdried, adjectivedried fruit, noundripping, noundrumstick, noundry goods, noundunk, verbEaster egg, nouneat, verbeatery, nouneating apple, nouneats, nounEccles cake, nounéclair, nounEdam, nounedible, adjectiveeel, nounegg, nouneggplant, nounegg roll, nounelevenses, nounendive, nounEnglish breakfast, nounEnglish muffin, nounentrée, nounepicure, nounescalope, nounevaporated milk, nounfast food, nounfeed, verbfeed, nounfeta cheese, nounfig, nounfilbert, nounfillet, verbfilling, adjectivefilling, nounfilo, nounflounder, nounfloury, adjectiveflyblown, adjectivefoil, nounfoodstuff, nounforage, nounfork, verbfortify, verbfreeze-dried, adjectiveFrench bean, nounFrench bread, nounFrench dressing, nounFrench fry, nounFrench loaf, nounFrench stick, nounfries, nounfromage frais, nounfrozen, adjectivefruit, nounfudge, nounfull-fat, adjectivegaram masala, noungarlic, noungarnish, noungarnish, verbgastronomic, adjectivegastronomy, noungel, verbginger, nounglass, nounglassware, noungolden raisin, noungoody, noungourmand, noungrain, nounGranary, adjectivegranulated, adjectivegreasy, adjectivegreasy spoon, noungreen, adjectivegrill, noungristle, noungrocer, nounground, adjectiveground beef, noungrub, noungruel, nounguava, noungum, noungumball, noungumbo, noungumdrop, nounhalal, adjectivehalibut, nounham, nounhamburger, nounhaunch, nounhead table, nounhealth food, nounheart, nounhearty, adjectiveheat, nounherb, nounhigh tea, nounhome economics, nounhot dish, nounhygiene, nounhygienic, adjectiveiceman, nounindigestible, adjectiveindigestion, nouninedible, adjectiveinfected, adjectiveingest, verbinn, nouninsipid, adjectiveintake, nounirradiate, verbjellied, adjectivejoint, nounjuice, nounjuicy, adjectivejunk, nounjunk food, nounknuckle, nounkosher, adjectivelaxative, nounlean, adjectiveleavings, nounleg, nounlight, adjectiveliquorice, nounlive, adjectiveloaf, nounlocker, nounloin, nounlotus, nounlukewarm, adjectivelump, nounlunch, nounlunch, verblunchbox, nounlunch break, nounluncheon, nounlunch hour, nounlunchroom, nounlunchtime, nounluscious, adjectivemace, nounMadeira cake, nounmain course, nounmaitre d', nounmaize, nounmandarin, nounmandarin orange, nounmangetout, nounmango, nounmaple syrup, nounmargarine, nounmarge, nounmarmalade, nounmarrow, nounmarshmallow, nounMason jar, nounmasticate, verbmature, adjectivemature, verbmeal, nounmealie, nounmealtime, nounmealy, adjectivemeat, nounmeat-packing, nounmeaty, adjectivemellow, adjectivementhol, nounmentholated, adjectivemenu, nounmess, nounmess, verbmess hall, nounmilk chocolate, nounmillet, nounmince, nounmint, nounmocha, nounmolasses, nounmoreish, adjectivemorsel, nounmouldy, adjectivemouth, nounmouthful, nounMSG, nounmunch, verbmung bean, nounmush, nounmushroom, nounmustard, nounnibble, verbnibble, nounnosh, nounnourish, verbnourishment, nounnugget, nounnut, nounnutcracker, nounnutshell, nounnutty, adjectiveoatmeal, nounoats, nounoffal, nounokra, nounon, prepositiononion, nounorder, nounoregano, nounorganic, adjectiveoverindulge, verboxtail, nounpackaging, nounpacker, nounpap, nounparcel, nounpaste, nounpastille, nounpastry, nounpatisserie, nounpearl barley, nounpectin, nounpeel, verbpeel, nounpepper, nounpepper, verbpeppercorn, nounpeppermint, nounperishable, adjectivepetit four, nounpiccalilli, nounpicnic, nounpicnic, verbpie, nounpilaff, nounpilau, nounpimento, nounpinto bean, nounpit, nounpizza parlor, nounpizzeria, nounplain chocolate, nounplain flour, nounploughman's lunch, nounpoor boy, nounpork, nounpork pie, nounpork rinds, nounporridge, nounporterhouse steak, nounportion, nounpostprandial, adjectivepotato, nounpotato crisp, nounpotted, adjectivepoultry, nounpraline, nounprawn, nounprepacked, adjectivepreservative, nounpreserve, verbpreserve, nounpretzel, nounprovision, verbprune, nounpuff pastry, nounpumpernickel, nounpumpkin, nounpuree, verbquince, nounQuorn, nounrabbit, nounrancid, adjectiverare, adjectiveravenous, adjectiveraw, adjectivered meat, nounreheat, verbrennet, nounrepast, nounreplete, adjectiverestaurant, nounrestaurant car, nounrestaurateur, nounrib, nounrice, nounrigatoni, nounrind, nounripe, adjectiveroadhouse, nounrock, nounroe, nounroll, nounroot vegetable, nounrose hip, nounrusk, nounrutabaga, nounsaccharin, nounsalad cream, nounsalad dressing, nounsalami, nounsalmon, nounsalsa, nounsalt, verbsalt, adjectivesalty, adjectivesandwich, nounsardine, nounsassafras, nounsatisfying, adjectivesatsuma, nounsauerkraut, nounsausage, nounscallion, nounscampi, nounscone, nounscoop, nounScotch broth, nounscratchings, nounseafood, nounseasoned, adjectiveseed, verbsemolina, nounservery, nounservice charge, nounserving, nounset, adjectiveshallot, nounshellfish, nounsherbet, nounshish kebab, nounshortbread, nounshortcake, nounshortcrust pastry, nounshoulder, nounshrimp cocktail, nounside order, nounsillabub, nounsimnel cake, nounsingle cream, nounsirloin, nounsitting, nounskimmed milk, nounskin, nounskin, verbslaw, nounslice, nounsliced bread, nounsloe, nounsloppy joe, nounsmorgasbord, nounsnack bar, nounsnow pea, nounsoda fountain, nounsodium chloride, nounsoft fruit, nounsorghum, nounsoul food, nounsour, adjectivesour, verbsourdough, nounsoya, nounsoya bean, nounspearmint, nounspinach, nounsponge, nounsponge cake, nounsponge pudding, nounspoon, verbspoonful, nounspotted dick, nounspread, nounspring onion, nounspring roll, nounsprout, nounspud, nounsquash, nounsquid, nounstaple, nounstarfruit, nounstarter, nounsteak, nounsteakhouse, nounsteak tartare, nounstew, nounstick, nounStilton, nounstir-fry, verbstodge, nounstone-ground, adjectivestrawberry, nounstring bean, nounstringy, adjectivestrudel, nounsub, nounsucrose, nounsuet, nounsugar, nounsugar, verbsugar-coated, adjectivesugar cube, nounsugar lump, nounsugary, adjectivesultana, nounsun-dried, adjectivesup, verbsupper, nounsustenance, nounswallow, verbswallow, nounswede, nounsweetcorn, nounsweetened condensed milk, nounsweetener, nounsweetmeat, nounsweet pepper, nounsweet potato, nounsyrup, nounsyrupy, adjectivetable d'hôte, nountaco, nountaffy, nountainted, adjectivetakeaway, nountakeout, nountangerine, nountapas, nountapioca, nountaramasalata, nountariff, nountart, nountartare sauce, nountaste, verbtasteless, adjectivetaster, nountasting, nountater, nountattie, nounT-bone steak, nountea, nounteacake, nountender, adjectivetin, nountinned, adjectivetitbit, nountoffee apple, nountofu, nountomato, nountongue, nountop, nountopping, nountop round, nountopside, nountop table, nountortilla, nountough, adjectivetransport cafe, nountreacle, nountrifle, nountripe, nountrotter, nountruck stop, nountruffle, nountub, nountuna, nounturkey, nounTurkish delight, nounturnip, nounturnover, nountutti frutti, nounTV dinner, nounTVP, noununadulterated, adjectiveunleavened, adjectiveunpalatable, adjectivevacuum-packed, adjectivevanilla, nounveal, nounvegan, nounvegetable, nounvegetarian, nounvegetarianism, nounveggie, nounvenison, nounvictual, verbvictuals, nounvoracious, adjectivevoucher, nounwaiter, nounwaitress, nounwalnut, noun-ware, suffixwarmed-over, adjectivewedge, nounwell, nounwell-done, adjectivewell-fed, adjectivewet fish, nounwheat, nounwhite, nounwhite flour, nounwhite pepper, nounwhite sauce, nounwholefood, nounwholemeal, adjectivewhole wheat, adjectivewiener, nounwild rice, nounwishbone, nounwrap, nounyeast extract, nounyoghurt, nounyogurt, nounyolk, nounyule log, nounyummy, adjectivezucchini, nounzwieback, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs What day are your folks coming to dinner? We usually dress for dinner (=wear formal clothes for our evening meal). I’ll watch the kids and you fix dinner. the Society’s Gala Dinner a charity gala evening a potluck supper at the church Breakfast is served until 9 am. The hotel does a very good set menu. Why don’t you stay for supper?
· Why don't you come and have dinner with us?
· I offered to cook dinner.
· I thought we might have pasta for dinner tonight.
· We're having a few friends round to dinner.
· Let's ask Kate and Mike to dinner.
· Mark is coming over for dinner.
(=go and eat in a restaurant)· Would you like to go out for dinner on Saturday?
(=start giving people food)· Dinner is served between 7 and 11 pm in the hotel restaurant.
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + dinner· The cost of the hotel includes a three-course dinner.
(=a special meal eaten on Sunday etc)· We usually have a walk after Christmas dinner.
(=for two people in a romantic relationship)· Clive and Denise were enjoying a romantic dinner for two in a quiet French restaurant.
(=with only candles for lighting)· Chris treated his girlfriend to a candle-lit dinner.
(=not hurried)· I enjoy having a leisurely dinner with some friends at the weekend.
(=where people wear special formal clothes)· He was invited to a black-tie dinner at one of the Oxford colleges.
British English informal (=with a lot of good food)· Mum always makes a slap-up dinner for me when I go home.
British English (=meals provided at school in the middle of the day)· School dinners are served in the canteen.
(=meals that you eat while watching TV)· TV dinners in aluminium containers can be found in the freezer departments of many supermarkets.
dinner + NOUN (=when someone's friends are invited for a special evening meal)· We are having a dinner party on Saturday.
· The dinner guests began arriving at about seven o'clock.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES (=a special meal on Christmas Day)· All the family come to our house for Christmas dinner.
What day are your folks coming to dinner? (=someone you have dinner with)· We saw him in the restaurant with a very attractive dinner companion.
· Kate was in the kitchen cooking dinner.
We usually dress for dinner (=wear formal clothes for our evening meal).· What time do you usually eat lunch?
I’ll watch the kids and you fix dinner. the Society’s Gala Dinner a charity gala evening· How much meat do I need to buy for 15 dinner guests?
· Fred's wife has accepted the dinner invitation.
· There is an extensive dinner menu, and seafood is a speciality.
(=one where people are invited to someone’s house for an evening meal)· It’s a favorite topic of conversation at fashionable dinner parties these days.
a potluck supper at the church· I'd forgotten to make a dinner reservation.
Breakfast is served until 9 am. The hotel does a very good set menu. (=someone who makes speeches after formal meals)· As every after-dinner speaker knows, a joke or two is always much appreciated.
(=after a formal dinner)· He gets paid a lot for making after-dinner speeches.
Why don’t you stay for supper?· Will you clear the breakfast table?
(=go for a walk so that your stomach feels less full)
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· Well the after dinner speaker is none other than Dave Bassett of Sheffield United.· It lay among the daily stack until after dinner.· A packed Hall of graduates and undergraduates gave Baroness Park an affectionate standing ovation at the end of her after dinner speech.
· The awards were presented at the annual coaches dinner sponsored by the Post Office.· That evening the first annual dinner was held.· He received the award from a National newspaper at the annual Sports Writers dinner.
· Read in studio A new meals on wheels scheme is being tested which could cut the cost of providing hot school dinners.· I've backed more shows than you lot have had hot dinners and I've never seen anything like this.· So - a long, hot bath, dinner in her room with her book, then an early night.· We're hoping to join you for a hot dinner.
NOUN· Helped to cook the Christmas dinner?· When Joe was asked to join the First Family each year for Christmas dinner, it posed a dilemma.· Over £1,500 was raised at the fete and this will be used to give 200 pensioners a slap-up Christmas dinner.· I wish she would show me how to get through homework and adolescence instead of just Christmas dinner for 40.· And tonight the traditional college Christmas dinner was cancelled as a mark of respect.· Frank would go home with a friend for Christmas dinner and I would be left here alone.· At the lunchtime Christmas dinner Tina, Jean and Hilda decided to wear their new bonnets with the flowers all round.· Margaret cooked a small Christmas dinner.
· Close friend James Hewitt was the princess's dinner companion.· A dieting dinner companion ordered two appetizers and no entree one time and was extremely happy.· No doubt, too, he was dreaming pleasant dreams of his dinner companion of last night!· Both were wonderful dinner companions and I thoroughly enjoyed my evening.· Former flames James Gilbey and James Hewitt became dinner companions.
· Her president's reception and dinner dance tomorrow night launches the main weekend of events.· In August Sarah was invited to a dinner dance by a commercial traveller who came to the shop.· Anne thought often about Sarah and her sophisticated partner on the Saturday night of the dinner dance.· Cut it down, dye it red and press it into service for that next dinner dance?· The season went well and the club recently held its presentation dinner dance where the trophies were awarded.
· There's a weekly farewell dinner and you can expect a welcoming drink on arrival.· Worse awaited the Vietminh leader two evenings later, at a farewell dinner organized by Zhou.· The farewell dinner is at the historic Abbey Tavern, located in the fishing village of Howth.· The afternoon is yours for further exploring, until a farewell dinner party during the evening.
· A gala dinner is held fortnightly and lunch is alfresco.· A weekly gala dinner is held with folk music, and a piano bar provides music three times a week.· Once a week there is a Tyrolean gala dinner. 50 bedrooms: no singles available.· Once a week a gala dinner is held.· Two dining rooms; buffet style breakfast; weekly gala dinner.· From May to September there is a weekly gala dinner.
· Meredith speculated whether or not her dinner guest would go to her funeral.· They stared down at his dinner guests.· Another thing he did was picture himself and his wife in the drawing room receiving dinner guests.· The dinner guest arrived early and came marching into the kitchen to inspect the proceedings, under the guise of offering assistance.· One of the dinner guests found Pennant, the travel writer, superficial.· After his appointment to the Supreme Court in 1939, he was a frequent dinner guest at Dumbarton Avenue.· Ben Elissar shared the landmark diplomatic twist with dinner guests last Friday.
· Assuming that Fred's wife has accepted the dinner invitation, have they made a contract? 2.· Although she had rejected his dinner invitation, somehow he had come out of the scene the victor.· To his surprise, Eleanor was not bowled over by the dinner invitation.· One anxious socialite complained that five of her dinner invitations had been cancelled.
· Their known, nearly identical faces, slid by in a wave of tawdry dinner jackets, sequinned old lace.· They were so close that Margaret could see their clothes: the men wore white dinner jackets and the women long gowns.· The city suits and ivory silk dinner jackets she gave to Franky.· Although he was rather rumpled, he wore his double-breasted dinner jacket with easy elegance.· Neither Patrick nor John had brought dinner jackets so Sir Bryan decreed that the men would wear lounge suits.· She was surprised that Colonel Scott Wilson wore a dinner jacket.· Some of the casino crowd were here, an assortment of dinner jackets and plunging cocktail dresses.· That relatively small room appeared to be a forest of black dinner jackets, grey hair and cigar smoke.
· All staff were interviewed, including the cleaner, dinner lady and students.· He made the short journey to sample the fare of the proud dinner ladies from Wheatley Park School.
· Phone call from Education Office, re. dinner money summary sheets.· Her parents can give her pocket money, dinner money, clothing allowance and so on.· Secretary mentions pupil's dinner money.· With horror, I realised he was using his dinner money to feed his addiction.· Children talked, read horoscopes, collected dinner money and completed homework.· Had a brief discussion about B's dinner money owing. 2.55: Internal Audit Officer phoned.· Could I make an appointment to see her at the Education Office to sort out the dinner money debts once and for all - hopefully.· Also sort out the dinner money! 9.40: Phone call from Education Office re.
· Since it is the dinner party hosts holding the event, the whole £100 a head goes to the charity.· They avoided talking about Miss Poole or Heather and dreaded going to the weekly dinner parties.· A celebration dinner party. 3.· Sometimes he puts on dinner parties that cost thousands of dollars.· Edward has a dinner party tonight which I bust attend.· We will also seek to promote forms of accountability which go beyond dinner parties at Stormont for selected priests and other notables.· Leave the crystal and good china to those intimate, sit-down dinner parties.
· Archaeologists have discovered a complete Roman house beneath the leaning tower of Pisa, containing dinner plates and wine jugs.· Walking through the old foundations, you discover broken bits of dinner plates and an occasional fork with its tines splayed.· It is easy to mark around a dinner plate and then cut out with a sharp knife.· Pages were spread over the wineglasses and dinner plates.· Cover them with a bucket or large flower pot, or place a dinner plate on a crown of foliage.· Walker Evans records a roughly piled grave of loose earth topped with the impermanent and unstable memorial of a dinner plate.· Or serve on individual dinner plates topped with 3 to 4 generous tablespoons sauce per serving.
· Read in studio One of the country's top chefs has been sampling life at the bottom ... testing school dinners.· Read in studio A new meals on wheels scheme is being tested which could cut the cost of providing hot school dinners.· No one is fighting her for the task of serving school dinners to the juniors.· There are a great number of myths that constantly need to be laid about school dinners.· Another group are the kitchen and canteen staff, responsible for providing school dinners.· But the school dinner she was wolfing down was nothing like the standard favourite of baked beans, burgers and ice-cream.· When I started this job in school dinners I earned £7 a week.· Read in studio School dinners might never be the same again thanks to the efforts of one school cook.
· Best reductions in household goods, bedding, dinner services.· The place setting is laid with the silver dinner service made by Garrard.· The great Leinster dinner service of 1747 was his swansong: no silver bearing his mark appears thereafter.· She washed up the dinner service, which she'd left in the sink to soak.· Pekin dinner service, silver cutlery, crystal glasses, showy white napkins, all in order.· The oval dining table and the chairs were modern as were the Wedgwood dinner service and the elegant glasses.
· We were sitting on the porch after Sunday dinner.· Had they been living, all three of us would have benefited from their bright wholesomeness and Sunday dinners.· He wanted to get started back to Washington-he had planned t having Sunday dinner at home.
· I want to be able to sit with friends around a dinner table and not think about what I am doing.· The dinner table had become our favorite battleground.· Apples crop up everywhere from the dinner table to our most ancient myths and legends.· Men with moderately elevated blood cholesterol and blood pressure may want to reach for the garlic at the dinner table.· They only expect 12 around the dinner table these days at the family home at Stanton Harcourt.· And more is at stake than manners at the dinner table.· Mildly irritated, he returned to the dinner table.· But in-stead of hitting her father it landed on the messy dinner table.
· The thanksgiving dinner, the feast ... that was it, of course.· But Smolan says he stumbled on the idea in 1994 while sharing Thanksgiving dinner with college friends.· My aunt had invited me for Thanksgiving dinner.· I thought it would be a nice break to go there for Thanksgiving dinner.
· Evelyn could hardly wait for dinner time so that she could say something to Jackie.· Finally, dinner time comes, and there is no bread on the table.· Then Arthur Peeble's dinner time started at one o'clock till quarter to two.· Walk through any suburban neighborhood at dinner time on any weekend evening this time of year.· Come on, it's nearly dinner time.· Consider these two situations: Case A: The phone rings at dinner time.· Smart casual wear is quite in order for dinner time, but bring one cocktail dress for the Captain's cocktail party.· Case B: The phone rings at dinner time.
VERB· Raducanu attended the official dinner that followed the international but then left his team-mates.· Only Forbes, Hostettler, Klug and Wolf had been scheduled to attend the dinner.· Brian was attending a medical dinner that night, so it was left to Celia to entertain the pair alone.· Nearly 1, 400 Republicans attended a state committee dinner last February.· Over 100 guests attended his retiral dinner at the Normandy Hotel, Renfrew.· That Jaime Guerrero is alive to attend the dinner probably defies the odds.· Despite their early start, they still attended the dinner laid on by the Flanders rugby authorities.· We attended a dinner at Le Mandrie.
· They can't come over to dinner tomorrow; they've got unexpected company.· You get demerits if you miss a meeting or come late to dinner without calling beforehand.· She wanted me to come for dinner.· Probably the party would come in plain dinner dresses, just to show how far above such things they were.· Next in succession came the dinner preparation.· On Christmas Day Bill's family, who live locally, came for the dinner.· One day a man named Gary comes for dinner, and eventually Mom and Gary marry.
· Helped to cook the Christmas dinner?· He wants to cook me dinner.· It happened while I was cooking dinner on my temperamental new stove.· I come home, cook the dinner, check the schoolwork, politely ask everybody how their day went.· Tell her a saucy joke and if you're quick you can cook dinner for six on her head.· She cooked me dinner last night.· We had an arrangement whereby whoever arrived home first cooked dinner.
· He was dressed for dinner and she knew without doubt that they were not going to be invited to join him.· Corinne and Joe dressed formally for dinner each evening, met in the small study for cocktails, and dined by themselves.· He would stride on to the concert platform, a tall, self-assured man impeccably dressed in a dinner jacket.· Pauline Davis taught the young man how to dress for a formal dinner and how to observe the required etiquette.· Jim and William Reid don't dress for dinner.· While we were dressing for dinner, Jasper spent a long time trying to teach me how to tie it.· One day, it was a Saturday between matinee and evening, I got dressed to go for dinner.· Tea was served at four-thirty, and after tea everybody would rush upstairs to dress for dinner.
· We did not always eat turkey for Christmas dinner.· The tourists from Tokyo want to eat a lobster dinner at four in the afternoon.· While he ate dinner, I sat quietly beside him.· To the accompaniment of foghorns and buoy bells, beside a crackling fire, l slowly eat my dinner.· Keith smoked Dempster's cigars, ate his dinners.· They were all below, eating their late dinner, he supposed.· He ate dinner in an expensive restaurant.· Of the 3, 351 teens surveyed, 53 percent said they eat dinner with the family regularly.
· I could stand beside her as she fixed dinner, but if I brushed her shoulder she edged apart.· Then she went back to fixing dinner.· One summer night we sat outside under the gnarled 100-year-old trees and talked while his mom finished fixing dinner.· A girl called Dimity must fix dinner for a rather demanding man she means to catch.
· Ken went to the man's flat before they were going out to dinner.· He went to movies, went out to dinner with us.· An entertained audience is actually there and listening: a bored one has usually gone to dinner.· Mariucci said Stubblefield and his fiance had gone out to dinner after the 49ers' win over the Rams.· That Gimmelmann had not gone home immediately after dinner had been the cause of the morning's outburst.· They avoided talking about Miss Poole or Heather and dreaded going to the weekly dinner parties.· We will also seek to promote forms of accountability which go beyond dinner parties at Stormont for selected priests and other notables.· And every Wednesday you go on a dinner outing.
· It went so well that the consultancy is now planning to hold more top notch dinners at Cottons.· Fists shot up, some holding dinner pails in the air like flags.· The library has managed to obtain the funds to hold the dinner at the library itself.· I held on to my dinner like a man, which disappointed Brown, who clearly thought I wasn't.· Juanita Hall held dinners at her home for everyone in the cast.
· Three day bargain breaks to include three course evening dinner, bed and breakfast - £105 per person.· Tickets which include dinner are $ 14 and may be obtained by calling, 422-3528.· The price includes dinner, bed and breakfast.· North Sea Ferries include 5 course dinner and reclining seat in all prices.· Price includes dinner, bed and breakfast except for April departures when only bed and breakfast are included.
· In the evening I was invited to have dinner with a citizen of the city, whose son is a student of.· Mattie phoned Alice early the next morning, inviting her to dinner after she finished work.· Better yet, invite her to dinner.· I'd been invited to dinner too, but declined.· The general invites her for dinner.· He said he'd been meaning to invite us to dinner ever since he arrived.· Bob has invited me to dinner with his friends Gary and Patrick.
· I even meet him for dinner from time to time.· He usually left before nine, sometimes to meet Oliver Ingraham for dinner.· They'd arranged to meet for dinner, but it seemed he hadn't been able to wait.· But it caught the attention of Sarandon, who asked to meet with Prejean over dinner.· And the headmaster had a disconcerting habit of offering jobs to people he met at dinner parties.· Once they were driving to meet friends for dinner when they spotted a pair winding across the highway.· Li's entourage, including his wife, Zhu Lin, were present at the meeting and dinner.
· Then the pudding was served, and dinner resumed, much to the relief of the children.· Cocktails were served at six-thirty; dinner followed at seven-thirty.· A continental breakfast, with cheeses and meats, is served and dinner is four courses and consists of good home cooking.· Eliza had just served dinner, and we just gaped.· Or if the tardy wife would just serve dinner on time, her husband would cease bloodying her nose.· Diet drinks and water are also unlimited ò Unlimited salad with fat-free dressing may be served with lunch and dinner.· Open from 11 a. m. until 1 a. m. daily, serving dinner until 10 p. m. Beer and wine.
· They moved into the next room and sat down to dinner.· They sit at the round dinner table in the kitchen.· He offers no explanation, as they sit down to dinner, and Anne and Millie talk about other things.· From a very young age, I sat at dinners with all kinds of guests.· He sat down to his dinner with a light heart.
· Do you have to hurry off, or can you stay and have dinner with me later?· The Kirkbrides asked me to stay to dinner, but by now I was addicted to driving.· It was tactfully conveyed to Baldwin that he would be welcome to stay for dinner but not afterwards.· We should plan to have him stay for dinner.· We ask him to stay for dinner, but he has to head out.· Marconi Honeymoon and silver anniversary couples staying 5 nights receive dinner on arrival and a gondola ride.· Much later, on the homeward journey, she found a restaurant and stayed to have dinner.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a dog’s dinner► more something than you’ve had hot dinners
1[countable, uncountable] the main meal of the day, eaten in the middle of the day or the evening: - Many of the photographs are not suitable for the dinner table.
- A celebration, a farewell party.
- Kate's local women's group gives her a farewell party of disapproval veiled by loyalty.
- On 8 August 1952 he and Joan gave a farewell party to Cambridge friends.
- She was then shown a picture taken at the farewell party at Champion Spark Plugs just before Paula went on maternity leave.
- The farewell dinner is at the historic Abbey Tavern, located in the fishing village of Howth.
- Worse awaited the Vietminh leader two evenings later, at a farewell dinner organized by Zhou.
- During her lunch hour she shopped, deliberately avoiding the part of town in which Giles's office was situated.
- Friday: the long lunch hour at the York.
- I sat through lunch hour staring at a poster of a crab louse magnified to monstrous proportions.
- It may be no more than a little park near work or a church that you stop by during lunch hour.
- So, by the late 1980s, the services resembled the kitchen of a fast-food restaurant during a busy lunch hour.
- Walk for fifteen minutes each lunch hour.
- I shall award a slap-up dinner at Jamash, our local Balti restaurant, to the winner.
- Gannon explained recently during a working lunch downtown.
- He has working lunches with his team to discuss and develop their approach to managing people for profit.
- The afternoon rehearsal started late because Meredith was at a working lunch in Rose's office.
- The real business gets done at working lunches and small dinner parties.
- You might then have a working dinner with a business speaker.
What time do you usually have dinner? We’re having fish for dinner tonight. What's for dinner?2[countable] a formal occasion when an evening meal is eaten, often to celebrate something: the Club’s annual dinner → dog’s dinner at dog1(9), → more something than you’ve had hot dinners at hot1(30)GRAMMAR: Patterns with dinnerfor dinner• You eat something for dinner: · We had fish for dinner. ✗Don’t say: We had fish at dinner.at dinner• You use at dinner to talk about something that happens while you are eating dinner: · She told us at dinner that she was going away.COLLOCATIONSverbshave/eat dinner· Why don't you come and have dinner with us?make/cook dinner· I offered to cook dinner.have something for dinner· I thought we might have pasta for dinner tonight.have somebody for/to dinner· We're having a few friends round to dinner.ask/invite somebody to dinner· Let's ask Kate and Mike to dinner.come for/to dinner· Mark is coming over for dinner.go out for/to dinner (=go and eat in a restaurant)· Would you like to go out for dinner on Saturday?serve dinner (=start giving people food)· Dinner is served between 7 and 11 pm in the hotel restaurant.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + dinnera three-course/four-course etc dinner· The cost of the hotel includes a three-course dinner.Sunday/Christmas/Thanksgiving dinner (=a special meal eaten on Sunday etc)· We usually have a walk after Christmas dinner.a romantic dinner (=for two people in a romantic relationship)· Clive and Denise were enjoying a romantic dinner for two in a quiet French restaurant.a candle-lit dinner (=with only candles for lighting)· Chris treated his girlfriend to a candle-lit dinner.a leisurely dinner (=not hurried)· I enjoy having a leisurely dinner with some friends at the weekend.a black-tie dinner (=where people wear special formal clothes)· He was invited to a black-tie dinner at one of the Oxford colleges.a slap-up dinner British English informal (=with a lot of good food)· Mum always makes a slap-up dinner for me when I go home.school dinners British English (=meals provided at school in the middle of the day)· School dinners are served in the canteen.TV dinners (=meals that you eat while watching TV)· TV dinners in aluminium containers can be found in the freezer departments of many supermarkets.dinner + NOUNa dinner party (=when someone's friends are invited for a special evening meal)· We are having a dinner party on Saturday.a dinner guest· The dinner guests began arriving at about seven o'clock.