buffet
pronunciation
How to pronounce buffet in British English:
UK [ˈbʊfeɪ]
How to pronounce buffet in American English:
US [ bəˈfeɪ]
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- Noun:
- a piece of furniture that stands at the side of a dining room; has shelves and drawers
- a meal set out on a buffet at which guests help themselves
- usually inexpensive bar
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- Verb:
- strike against forcefully
- strike, beat repeatedly
Word Origin
- buffet (v.)
- c. 1200, "to strike with the fist or hand; cuff, box, slap; from Old French bufeter "to strike, slap, punch," from bufet (see buffet (n.2)). Related: Buffeted; buffeting.
- buffet (n.1)
- "table," 1718, from French bufet "bench, stool, sideboard," 12c., which is of uncertain origin. Sense in English extended 1888 to "meal served from a buffet."
- buffet (n.2)
- c. 1200, "blow struck with a fist or weapon," from Old French bufet "slap, punch," diminutive of bufe "a blow, slap, punch; puff of wind," figuratively "cunning trick," probably echoic of the sound of something soft being hit.
Example
- 1. We 're going to the buffet at the new restaurant .
- 2. Many forces buffet the world 's economies , and economic policies must be correspondingly nuanced .
- 3. The yellow buffet is from ikea and the music posters are from a local artist .
- 4. When sanity dictates that you stop shoving food into your face at the buffet or dinner table , but somehow you can 't seem to stop , pop mint-flavoured gum into your mouth .
- 5. Host a two hour open bar for your guests , and provide a decent buffet .