Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense caters, present participle catering, past tense, past participle catered
1. verb
In British English, to cater for a group of people means to provide all the things that they need or want. In American English, you say you cater to a person or group of people.
Minorca is the sort of place that caters for families. [VERB + for]
We cater to an exclusive clientele. [VERB + to]
2. verb
In British English, to cater for something means to take it into account. In American English, you say you cater to something.
We have to cater for demand. [VERBfor noun]
...shops that cater for the needs of men. [VERB + for]
Exercise classes cater to all levels of fitness. [VERB + to]
3. verb
If a person or company caters for an occasion such as a wedding or a party, they provide food and drink for all the people there.
Nunsmere Hall can cater for receptions of up to 300 people. [VERB + for]
The chef is pleased to cater for vegetarian diets. [VERBfor noun]
Does he cater parties too? [VERB noun]
4. See also catering, self-catering
cater in British English
(ˈkeɪtə)
verb
1. (intr; foll by for or to)
to provide what is required or desired (for)
to cater for a need
to cater to your tastes
2. (whenintr, foll by for)
to provide food, services, etc (for)
we cater for parties
to cater a banquet
Word origin
C16: from earlier catour purchaser, variant of acatour, from Anglo-Norman acater to buy, ultimately related to Latin acceptāre to accept
cater in American English
(ˈkeɪtər)
verb intransitive
1.
to provide food; serve as a caterer
2.
to take special pains in seeking to gratify another's needs or desires
with to or, in Brit. usage, for
verb transitive
3.
to serve as caterer for (a banquet, wedding, etc.)
Word origin
< obs. cater, buyer < ME catour, aphetic for achatour < OFr < achater, to buy, provide < VL *accaptare < L ad-, to + captare, to strive, intens. of capere, to take hold: see have
Examples of 'cater' in a sentence
cater
The couturiers were starting to cater for the wealthy woman executive.
Pacter, Trudi YELLOW BIRD (2001)
It does not require me to bow and scrape and cater to your every idiotic whim.
Jennifer Fallon TREASON KEEP (2001)
Luke and his people usually cater for this do, but they're snowed under right now.
Tony Parsons MAN AND WIFE (2001)
"I think the university should hire you to cater for us, Mom.
Isobel Bird CIRCLE OF THREE: BOOK 6: RING OF LIGHT (2001)
In other languages
cater
British English: cater VERB
to cater for sth To cater for a group of people means to provide all the things that they need or want.
This resort is the sort of place that caters for families.
American English: cater
Brazilian Portuguese: prover
Chinese: 满足…需要
European Spanish: satisfacer
French: être prévu pourN
German: ausgerichtet sein auf
Italian: fornire servizi per
Japanese: 要求を満たす
Korean: ~에게 제반 편의를 제공하다
European Portuguese: prover
Latin American Spanish: satisfacer
Chinese translation of 'cater'
cater
(ˈkeɪtəʳ)
vi
to cater for (= supply food for)[occasion, wedding, party]承办(辦) (chéngbàn)
to cater for or (US) to sth[sb's needs, tastes]迎合某事 (yínghé mǒushì)
to cater for or (US) to sb[readers, consumers]迎合某人 (yínghé mǒurén)