cater

[ key-ter ]

verb (used without object)

1. to provide food, service, etc., as for a party or wedding:

   to cater for a banquet.

2. to provide or supply what amuses, is desired, or gives pleasure, comfort, etc. (usually followed by to or for ):

   to cater to popular demand; to cater to an invalid.

   Synonyms: please, indulge, humor

verb (used with object)

1. to provide food and service for:

   to cater a party.

cater

/ ˈkeɪtə /

verb

1. intr; foll by for or to to provide what is required or desired (for)

   cater to your tastes

   to cater for a need

2. whenintr, foll by for to provide food, services, etc (for)

   to cater a banquet

   we cater for parties

Other Words From

• cater·ing·ly adverb
• un·catered adjective
• un·cater·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cater¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; verb use of obsolete cater, Middle English catour, variant of acatour “buyer,” from Anglo-French, from acat(er) “to buy” ( cate ) + -our -or ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of cater¹

C16: from earlier catour purchaser, variant of acatour, from Anglo-Norman acater to buy, ultimately related to Latin acceptāre to accept

Example Sentences

T-levels are designed to cater for students who want an alternative to A-levels but do not wish to take an apprenticeship, which typically requires as much as 80% of a student's time to be spent with an employer.

From BBC

“We cater to all kinds of walkers, which is sometimes tricky if we have some people walking faster or slower than others,” Petersen wrote.

From Los Angeles Times

Industries catering to preteens have crumbled as social media has become the epicenter of cultural dissemination, with tween fashion and beauty largely being folded into brands that cater to adults.

From Slate

The recent decision comes after years of customer complaints urging the coffeehouse chain to remove the extra fee to cater to a growing number of non-milk drinkers.

From Salon

Honestly, I haven’t seen either party trying to cater to the Latino vote at all in North Carolina.

From Slate