n. 1 the main meal of the day, taken either at midday or in the evening. 2 a formal evening meal, often in honour of a person or event. dinner-dance a formal dinner followed by dancing. dinner-jacket a man's short usu. black formal jacket for evening wear. dinner lady a woman who supervises children's lunch in a school. dinner service a set of usu. matching crockery for serving a meal.
[ ME f. OF diner, disner: see DINE ]