noun

dinner

DIN-ur/ˈdɪnər/

The main meal of the day.

Roast chicken, potatoes, and vegetables fill the plates set out for dinner.

A substantial evening meal laid out ready to eat: a plated serving of roast chicken, potatoes and vegetables, with a shared serving platter and a second place setting.

Etymology

dinnerOld Frenchtake the first meal of the day

Disner referred to taking the first meal of the day. In English, dinner has consistently named the main meal, while its usual time moved from morning or midday toward evening.

In context

Jenn Clayton12:43

for dinner tonight we're having baked spicy chicken meatballs and we're gonna pair that with a side of rice and a veggie

WHAT I EAT IN A DAY TO LOSE WEIGHT ON WW | BAKED SPICY CHICKEN MEATBALLS | WEIGHT WATCHERS!

More examples

She invited us to dinner.
What would you like for dinner?
The family served Sunday dinner at noon.

Forms

dinner · dinners

Similar words

main meal: Plain equivalent without implying a particular time of day.