/kaf'i tear"ee euh/ , n.
1. a restaurant in which patrons wait on themselves, carrying their food to tables from counters where it is displayed and served.
2. a lunchroom or dining hall, as in a factory, office, or school, where food is served from counters or dispensed from vending machines or where food brought from home may be eaten.
[ 1830-40, Amer.; cafetería café, equiv. to Sp cafeter ( a ) coffeemaker ( caf ( f ) etière; café COFFEE + -ière, fem. of -ier -IER 2 ; t appar. by analogy with words such as bouquetière flower seller, from bases ending in t ) + -ía -IA ]