café

¹

or ca·fe

[ ka-fey, kuh- French ka-fey ]

noun

, plural ca·fés [ka-, feyz, k, uh, -, k, a, -, fey].

1. a small, unpretentious restaurant, often with exterior seating on a patio or extending onto the sidewalk.

   Synonyms: tearoom, lunchroom, bistro, coffeehouse

2. coffee:

   I pick up a café and a croissant on my commute in to work every morning.

CAFE

²

[ ka-fey, kuh- ]

noun

1. a U.S. federally mandated standard of average minimum miles-per-gallon fuel consumption for all the cars produced by an automobile manufacturer in a given year.

café

/ ˈkæfeɪ; ˈkæfɪ /

noun

1. a small or inexpensive restaurant or coffee bar, serving light meals and refreshments
2. a corner shop or grocer

Spelling Note

See resume ².

Word History and Origins

Origin of café¹

First recorded in 1780–90; from French: literally, “coffee”; coffee

Origin of café²

C(orporate) A(verage) F(uel) E(conomy)

Word History and Origins

Origin of café¹

C19: from French: coffee

Example Sentences

Steve Garth, who works in Circular Quay, was inside the Cartier jewelry store near the café when the siege began.

From The Daily Beast

Monis walked into the café on Monday and took everyone inside hostage.

From The Daily Beast

After failing to reach their targeted goal on crowdfunding sites, the café became a media sensation following a piece on Buzzfeed.

From The Daily Beast

Hana seeks refuge from the buzzing lights of Otome Road in a nearby café and makes another swirl with her straw.

From The Daily Beast

VICTORIA VALENTINO (1970) The former Playboy Playmate met Cosby in 1970 at Café Figaro, a restaurant the comedian co-owned.

From The Daily Beast

The Café tender was asleep in his chair; the porter had gone off; the sentinel alone kept awake on his post.

From Project Gutenberg

Below the great gothic windows spreads the awning of a café, which takes up all the ground floor.

From Project Gutenberg

The effect of his drumming before the Café de la Loge was electric.

From Project Gutenberg

Aristide glowingly accepted the invitation and cast a look of triumph around the café.

From Project Gutenberg

The little tobacco-shop and café around the corner I find an excellent place for café au lait.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bistro
• cafeteria
• coffee shop
• diner