buffet
1 of 4noun (1)
buf·fet ˈbə-fət 
1
: a blow especially with the hand
2
: something that strikes with telling force
buffet
2 of 4verb
buf·fet ˈbə-fət
buffeted; buffeting; buffets
transitive verb
1
: to strike sharply especially with the hand : cuff
2
: to strike repeatedly : batter
the waves buffeted the shore
3
: to drive, force, move, or attack by or as if by repeated blows
schools being buffeted by budget cuts
intransitive verb
: to make one's way especially under difficult conditions
buffet
3 of 4noun (2)
buf·fet (ˌ)bə-ˈfā
bü-ˈfā,
British especially
ˈbü-ˌfā plural buffets
1
furniture : sideboard sense 1
2
a
: a counter for refreshments
went back to the buffet for a second helping
b
chiefly British : a restaurant operated as a public convenience (as in a railway station)
c
: a meal set out on a buffet or table for ready access and informal service
a restaurant that offers a breakfast buffet
3
: an assortment of options or offerings : variety
Once you're up there among the clouds, you'll have a buffet of skiing options.
Brad Wetzler
Brad Wetzlerbuffet
4 of 4adjective
buf·fet (ˌ)bə-ˈfā
bü-ˈfā,
British especially
ˈbü-ˌfā : served informally especially as a buffet (see buffet entry 3 sense 2c)
a buffet meal
buffet luncheons
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- bang
- bash
- bat
- beat
- belt
- biff
- blow
- bop
- box
- bust
- chop
- clap
- clip
- clout
- crack
- cuff
- dab
- douse [British]
- fillip
- hack
- haymaker
- hit
- hook
- knock
- larrup [dialect]
- lash
- lick
- pelt
- pick
- plump
- poke
- pound
- punch
- rap
- slam
- slap
- slug
- smack
- smash
- sock
- spank
- stinger
- stripe
- stroke
- swat
- swipe
- switch
- thud
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- welt
- whack
- wham
- whop
- whap
Verb
- bash
- baste
- bat
- batter
- beat
- belabor
- belt
- birch
- bludgeon
- bung up
- club
- curry
- do
- drub
- fib [British]
- flog
- hammer
- hide
- lace
- lambaste
- lambast
- lash
- lather
- lick
- maul
- mess (up)
- paddle
- pelt
- pommel
- pound
- pummel
- punch out
- rough (up)
- slate
- slog
- switch
- tan
- thrash
- thresh
- thump
- tromp
- wallop
- whale
- whip
- whop
- whap
- whup
- work over
Noun (2)
- cabinet
- closet
- console
- cupboard
- hutch
- locker
- press
- sideboard
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb The strong winds buffeted the ship. fierce winds buffeted the small sailboat
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English, from Anglo-French, diminutive of buffe blow
Verb
Middle English buffeten, verbal derivative of buffet buffet entry 1
Noun (2)
borrowed from French, going back to Old French, "stool, table, counter," of uncertain origin
Adjective
adjective derivative of buffet entry 3
First Known Use
Noun (1)
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun (2)
1707, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
1898, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing buffet
Kids Definition
buffet 1 of 2
verb
buf·fet ˈbə-fət
buffeted; buffeting
: to pound repeatedly
Waves buffeted our boat.
buffet
2 of 2noun
buf·fet ˌbə-ˈfā
bü-
1
: a cabinet or set of shelves for the display of dishes and silver : sideboard
2
: a meal set out on a buffet or table from which people may serve themselves
buffets 1 of 3
noun (1)
as in punches
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument delivered a powerful buffet to the side of the prisoner's head Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- punches
- blows
- swipes
- hits
- thumps
- strokes
- licks
- slaps
- thuds
- pounds
- knocks
- smacks
- beats
- whacks
- slams
- pokes
- bangs
- spanks
- clips
- belts
- switches
- hacks
- slugs
- hooks
- chops
- haymakers
- boxes
- stripes
- bashes
- lashes
- claps
- raps
- whams
- bats
- hands
- knees
- lickings
- picks
- cuffs
- socks
- pelts
- counters
- biffs
- swats
- swings
- stingers
- welts
- cracks
- clouts
- kicks
- fillips
- busts
- dabs
- beatings
- thwacks
- smashes
- wallops
- bops
- plumps
- counterstrokes
- larrups
- counter-strokes
- douses
- whaps
- batterings
- counterblows
- whips
- body blows
- counter-blows
- thrashings
- lefts
- roundhouses
- sidewinders
- whops
- shivers
- counterpunches
- whippings
- rabbit punches
- drubbings
- rights
- uppercuts
- bastinadoes
- crunchers
- knockdowns
- sucker punches
- wallopings
- bastinades
- knockouts
- pastings
- one-twos
- right-handers
- kayos
- KOs
buffets
2 of 3noun (2)
as in cabinets
a storage case typically having doors and shelves a buffet completed the kitchen set Synonyms & Similar Words
- cabinets
- cupboards
- lockers
- closets
- sideboards
- dressers
- consoles
- hutches
- chests
- credenzas
- secretaries
- wardrobes
- bookcases
- armoires
- presses
- breakfronts
- étagères
- china closets
- vitrines
- etageres
- cuddies
- taborets
- tabourets
- garderobes
- shelvings
- showcases
- pie safes
- clothespresses
- credences
- cabinetries
buffets
3 of 3verb
as in licks
to strike repeatedly fierce winds buffeted the small sailboat Synonyms & Similar Words
- licks
- pounds
- whips
- lashes
- attacks
- batters
- beats
- hides
- clubs
- assaults
- hits
- curries
- pelts
- punches
- bats
- boxes
- bashes
- slams
- does
- knocks
- mauls
- tans
- raids
- thumps
- chops
- slaps
- storms
- whales
- paddles
- belts
- smashes
- switches
- slates
- pommels
- works over
- spanks
- punches out
- hammers
- birches
- bludgeons
- fibs
- swipes
- wallops
- smacks
- pummels
- belabors
- bastes
- bungs up
- threshes
- beats up on
- thrashes
- lathers
- wounds
- laces
- flogs
- drubs
- slogs
- lambastes
- whacks
- blackjacks
- cracks
- lambasts
- whaps
- whups
- whams
- lams
- canes
- rushes
- flagellates
- tromps
- scourges
- straps
- roughs (up)
- cuffs
- cudgels
- leathers
- pastes
- socks
- clouts
- swats
- cowhides
- whops
- pistol-whips
- horsewhips
- rawhides
- busts
- thwacks
- besets
- lacerates
- assails
- descends (on or upon)
- messes (up)
- jumps (on)
- whomps
- lays on
- gores
- maims
- fustigates
- mangles
- mutilates
- clobbers
- pounces (on or upon)