dinner
C2Neutral to Formal
Definition
Meaning
The main meal of the day, typically eaten in the evening.
A formal evening meal, often for a special occasion or with guests; also used to denote the midday meal in some contexts (historically or regionally).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Dinner" refers primarily to the meal event itself, not the time of day. Its timing can be culturally fluid.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'dinner' can refer to a substantial midday meal (e.g., school dinner, Sunday dinner) as well as the main evening meal. In the US, 'dinner' is overwhelmingly the main evening meal.
Connotations
UK: Class connotations persist; 'dinner' for the evening meal can be seen as more formal or middle/upper class compared to 'tea' or 'supper'. US: Largely neutral, though 'supper' is a more informal or regional term for a lighter evening meal.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both varieties, but the exact timing reference requires context.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[have/take] dinner [with someone][cook/make/prepare] dinner [for someone]dinner is [served/ready]invite someone to dinnergo out for dinnerVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “dressed up like a dog's dinner”
- “a dog's dinner (a mess)”
- “done like a dinner (thoroughly defeated)”
- “more something than you've had hot dinners”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"Let's discuss the contract over dinner." (Used for networking in a semi-formal setting.)
Academic
"The study examined the social rituals surrounding the Victorian dinner."
Everyday
"What should we have for dinner tonight?"
Technical
Rare, except in fields like nutrition ('dinner plate model') or event management ('dinner service').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They dined on roast beef.
- We shall dine at eight.
American English
- She dined with the ambassador.
- We're dining out tonight.
adverb
British English
- They ate dinner-fashion, with multiple courses.
American English
- He arrived dinner-time sharp.
adjective
British English
- dinner service
- dinner break
- dinner money
American English
- dinner rolls
- dinner bell
- dinner plate
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We have dinner at seven o'clock.
- I don't like fish for dinner.
- Would you like to come over for dinner on Friday?
- She's cooking a special dinner for his birthday.
- The company hosted a formal dinner for its international partners.
- After the theatre, we went for a late dinner in a cosy Italian restaurant.
- The subtle power dynamics at play during the state dinner were analysed by political commentators.
- His memoirs describe interminable diplomatic dinners that served as the real theatre of negotiation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Dinner sounds like 'winner' - the winner eats the biggest meal of the day.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL GATHERING IS A MEAL (e.g., 'a political dinner'); ACHIEVEMENT IS A FEAST (e.g., 'a well-deserved dinner').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'ужин' always as 'supper'; 'dinner' is the more common and formal equivalent.
- Confusion with 'обед' (lunch). In English, 'dinner' is not lunch, though historically it could be.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I will eat a dinner.' (Correct: 'I will eat dinner' or 'have dinner')
- Incorrect: 'We had a dinner at 7 pm.' (Often redundant; 'We had dinner at 7 pm' is standard.)
Practice
Quiz
In which of these sentences is 'dinner' used in a distinctly British social-class context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Dinner' is the main meal, which is usually in the evening. 'Supper' is a lighter, often more informal, late evening meal. In some regions/households, they are synonymous.
Yes, traditionally and in some UK contexts (e.g., 'school dinner', 'Sunday dinner'), it refers to the main meal eaten around midday. In modern general American and increasingly British usage, it implies an evening meal.
Yes, when referring to a specific event or type of meal. E.g., 'We attended a formal dinner.' However, for the routine meal, it's usually uncountable: 'I'm making dinner.'
In parts of the UK, 'tea' can refer to a light evening meal or an early evening main meal. 'Dinner' as the evening meal is often associated with higher social class or formality in this context.
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