buffet

¹

[ buh-fey, boo-adjective boo-fey; British buhf-it ]

noun

1. 1. a variety of dishes presented in a line, from which diners in a restaurant serve themselves, usually at a fixed price regardless of how much one eats:

      The lavish all-you-can-eat buffet delivered a feast of salads, curries, pasta dishes, and sumptuous desserts for $40.

   2. a restaurant where food is presented in this way:

      They own one of the best high-end buffets in the country.

2. a meal laid out on one or more tables so that guests may serve themselves.
3. a sideboard or cabinet for holding china, table linen, etc.
4. a wide variety of things to choose from:

   The school’s internet safety workshop contains a buffet of ideas for parents in the 21st century.

5. a counter, bar, or the like, for lunch or refreshments.
6. a restaurant containing such a counter or bar.

adjective

1. consisting of food, refreshments, etc., laid out on tables or buffets from which guests or customers serve themselves: buffet service.

   a buffet supper;

   buffet service.

buffet

²

[ buhf-it ]

noun

1. a blow, as with the hand or fist.
2. a violent shock or concussion.

verb (used with object)

, buf·fet·ed, buf·fet·ing.

1. to strike, as with the hand or fist.

   Synonyms: wallop, sock, hit, box, cuff, slap

2. to strike against or push repeatedly:

   The wind buffeted the house.

3. to contend against; battle.

verb (used without object)

, buf·fet·ed, buf·fet·ing.

1. to struggle with blows of hand or fist.
2. to force one's way by a fight, struggle, etc.

buffet

¹

/ ˈbʌfɪt /

verb

1. tr to knock against or about; batter

   the wind buffeted the boat

2. tr to hit, esp with the fist; cuff
3. to force (one's way), as through a crowd
4. intr to struggle; battle

noun

1. a blow, esp with a fist or hand
2. aerodynamic excitation of an aircraft structure by separated flows

Buffet

²

/ byfɛ /

noun

1. BuffetBernard19281999MFrenchARTS AND CRAFTS: painterARTS AND CRAFTS: engraver Bernard (bɛrnar). 1928–99, French painter and engraver. His works are characterized by sombre tones and thin angular forms

buffet

³

noun

1. ˈbʊfeɪ a counter where light refreshments are served
2. ˈbʊfeɪ
   1. a meal at which guests help themselves from a number of dishes and often eat standing up
   2. ( as modifier )

      a buffet lunch

3. ˈbʌfɪtˈbʊfeɪ a piece of furniture used from medieval times to the 18th century for displaying plates, etc and typically comprising one or more cupboards and some open shelves
4. dialect.
   ˈbʌfɪ a kind of low stool, pouffe, or hassock

Derived Forms

• ˈbuffeter, noun

Other Words From

• buffet·er noun
• un·buffet·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of buffet¹

First recorded in 1710–20; from French, Old French; of obscure origin

Origin of buffet²

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, Old French buffe “a blow” + -et -et

Word History and Origins

Origin of buffet¹

C13: from Old French buffeter , from buffet a light blow, from buffe , of imitative origin

Origin of buffet²

C18: from French, of unknown origin

Example Sentences

He is tactless, following Cohn into a restroom to beg for his help or scarfing down cheeseballs and talking about midget wrestling at an Atlantic City casino buffet.

From Salon

Erika Kaplan, the head of PR for high-end matchmaking business Three Day Rule Matchmaking, told me that tech could also help “guide users through their entire dating and relationship journey,” and not just show a buffet of seemingly random options.

From Slate

People ate from a buffet from The Park’s Finest, the delicious Filipino barbecue spot run by a friend of hers.

From Los Angeles Times

Its famous customers included Snoop Dogg, Oprah Winfrey, Eva Longoria and Warren Buffet - and millions of users were getting unexpected and life-changing results.

From BBC

There would be a buffet dinner, a drag show, and a live auction of two Lady Gaga tickets for a show in Las Vegas.

From Slate

Related Words

• cafeteria
• smorgasbord