verb

cater

KAY-tuh

verb

To provide food and drink, typically for an event, as a professional service.

"A local firm catered the wedding reception."

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 notes

In 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

catered past tense, catered past tense, caters plural, caters plural, Caters plural, caters singular, caters singular

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A local firm _____ the wedding reception.

From Middle English catour, "provisioner," shortened from acatour, itself from Old French acater, "to buy."

pater mater eater tater later hater Water heater skater grater beater crater