/ ˈdɪnə(r); NAmE / noun
1.
[ U , C ] the main meal of the day, eaten either in the middle of the day or in the evening :
It's time for dinner.
When do you have dinner ?
What time do you serve dinner?
Let's invite them to dinner tomorrow.
What shall we have for dinner tonight?
It's your turn to cook dinner.
She didn't eat much dinner.
I never eat a big dinner.
Christmas dinner
a three-course dinner
I'd like to take you out to dinner tonight.
( BrE )
school dinners (= meals provided at school in the middle of the day)
➡ note at meal
2.
[ C ] a large formal social gathering at which dinner is eaten :
The club's annual dinner will be held on 3 June.
—see also dinner party
•
IDIOMS
see dog noun
•
IDIOMS
- done like a dinner
For more information see the Cultural Guide
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French disner (infinitive used as a noun), probably from desjëuner to break fast, from des- (expressing reversal) + jëun fasting.