verb
Uncommon
cater
KAY-tuh
Cater (verb) means to provide food and drink, typically for an event, as a professional service. Example: “A local firm catered the wedding reception.”
verb
1
To provide food and drink, typically for an event, as a professional service.
"A local firm catered the wedding reception."
2
To provide for or suit the needs or tastes of a particular group.
"The menu caters to vegetarians as well as meat-eaters."
"The app is designed to cater to younger users."
How to use cater
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo supply food for an event, or more broadly, to meet the needs of a particular group.
Common pairings
cater a party
cater to a need
cater for all tastes
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Word forms
- Plural
- caters
- Third person singular
- caters
- Past tense
- catered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A local firm _____ the wedding reception.
Etymology
From Middle English catour, "provisioner," shortened from acatour, itself from Old French acater, "to buy."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for cater
See all rhymes for cater →Frequently asked questions
What does “cater” mean?
The word “cater” means to provide food and drink, typically for an event, as a professional service. In plain terms, to supply food for an event, or more broadly, to meet the needs of a particular group.
How do you pronounce “cater”?
“Cater” is pronounced KAY-tuh (/ˈkeɪɾɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “cater” in a sentence?
Here is “cater” used in a sentence: “A local firm catered the wedding reception.”
What part of speech is “cater”?
“Cater” is a verb.
Where does the word “cater” come from?
The word “cater” comes from Old French. From Middle English catour, "provisioner," shortened from acatour, itself from Old French acater, "to buy.".
Is “cater” a common word?
“Cater” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cater” have?
“Cater” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to provide food and drink, typically for an event, as a professional service.
What is the difference between cater as providing food and cater as suiting needs?
Cater can mean to professionally provide food and drink for an event, such as catering a wedding, or more broadly to provide for or suit the needs or tastes of a particular group, such as a shop catering to families. The first sense is specific to food service, while the second applies to any kind of accommodation of preferences.
What preposition is typically used with cater?
Cater is commonly followed by 'to' or 'for,' as in 'cater to a niche audience' or 'cater for large events,' with 'cater for' being more common in British English and 'cater to' more common in American English.
Can a business cater to a group without providing food?
Yes, cater can describe suiting the needs or tastes of a group in a general business sense, such as a store catering to a specific customer base, without any connection to food service.
