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⇱ buffet - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

buffet

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciations'Buffet': French: /byfɛ/; 'buffet': noun: /ˈbʌfeɪ/ /ˈbʊfeɪ/, verb: /ˈbʌfɪt/

US:USA pronunciation: IPAUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈbʌfɪt/

US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(buf′it for 1; (bə fā′, bŏŏ- or, esp. for adj., bo̅o̅′fā; Brit. buf′it for 2)


Inflections of 'buffet' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
buffets
v 3rd person singular
buffeting
v pres p
buffeted
v past
buffeted
v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
buf•fet1 /ˈbʌfɪt/USA pronunciation   n. 
    [countable]
  1. a blow delivered with the hand or fist.

v. [~ + object]
  1. to strike against or push repeatedly: The wind buffeted the house.
  2. to struggle against;
    battle:buffeted by a series of financial disasters.

buf•fet2 /bəˈfeɪ, bʊ-/USA pronunciation   n. [countable]
  1. Fooda meal laid out so that guests may serve themselves:a buffet of cold cuts, salads, and desserts.
  2. a counter, bar, or table for food or refreshments.
  3. a restaurant with such a counter or table.

adj. [before a noun]
  1. Foodserved from or as a buffet:a buffet supper.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
buf•fet1  (buf′it),USA pronunciation n., v., -fet•ed, -fet•ing. 
n. 
  1. a blow, as with the hand or fist.
  2. a violent shock or concussion.

v.t. 
  1. to strike, as with the hand or fist.
  2. to strike against or push repeatedly:The wind buffeted the house.
  3. to contend against;
    battle.

v.i. 
  1. to struggle with blows of hand or fist.
  2. to force one's way by a fight, struggle, etc.
  • Old French buffe a blow + -et -et
  • Middle English 1175–1225
buf′fet•er, n. 
    3. slap, cuff, box, hit, sock, wallop.
buf•fet2  (bə fā′, bŏŏ- or, esp. for adj., bo̅o̅′fā; Brit. buf′it),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. Furniturea sideboard or cabinet for holding china, table linen, etc.
  2. Fooda meal laid out on a table or sideboard so that guests may serve themselves.
  3. a counter, bar, or the like, for lunch or refreshments.
  4. a restaurant containing such a counter or bar.

adj. 
  1. Foodconsisting of food, refreshments, etc., laid out on tables or buffets from which guests or customers serve themselves:a buffet supper; buffet service.
  • French, Old French, of obscure origin, originally
  • 1710–20

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
buffet n
  1. /ˈbʊfeɪ; ˈbʌfeɪ/ a counter where light refreshments are served
  2. /ˈbʊfeɪ/
    • a meal at which guests help themselves from a number of dishes and often eat standing up
    • (as modifier): a buffet lunch
  3. /ˈbʌfɪt; ˈbʊfeɪ/ a piece of furniture used from medieval times to the 18th century for displaying plates, etc, and typically comprising one or more cupboards and some open shelves
Etymology: 18th Century: from French, of unknown origin
buffet /ˈbʌfɪt/ vb ( -fets, -feting, -feted)
  1. (transitive) to knock against or about; batter
  2. (transitive) to hit, esp with the fist; cuff
  3. to force (one's way), as through a crowd
  4. (intransitive) to struggle; battle
 n
  1. a blow, esp with a fist or hand
  2. aerodynamic excitation of an aircraft structure by separated flows
Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French buffeter, from buffet a light blow, from buffe, of imitative origin
'buffet' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: a [cold] buffet lunch, the buffet car, [have, eat] a buffet [breakfast, lunch, dinner], more...

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