noun
dinner
DIH-nuh
noun
1
The main meal of the day, typically eaten in the evening.
"We usually have dinner around seven o'clock."
"What are you cooking for dinner tonight?"
2
A formal meal held for many guests to mark a special occasion.
"The charity holds a black-tie dinner every spring."
How to Use Dinner
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe main daily meal — usually eaten in the evening, though in some regions "dinner" means the midday meal instead.
UK vs US
In parts of the UK, especially working-class and northern usage, "dinner" can mean the midday meal, with "tea" or "supper" used for the evening meal.
Common pairings
have dinner
cook dinner
dinner party
Sunday dinner
Word Forms
dinnered past tense, dinners plural, dinners singular
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Etymology
From Old French disner, which originally meant "breakfast" before shifting to refer to the main meal of the day, ultimately from Vulgar Latin roots meaning "to break one's fast."