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

The buffet laid out in the bar rolled off the table - and those who had eaten already were soon bringing it up again.

From BBC

How much oil — and how much profit — remain beneath the waters that buffet the British Isles?

From BBC

At the time, P&O said a "wide range of approved protocols" had been put in place, including closing on-board launderettes and preventing passengers from serving themselves at the buffet.

From BBC

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

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

Related Words

• cafeteria
• smorgasbord