cater

UK: /ˈkeɪtə^r/ US: /ˈkeɪtɚ/ ,(kā′tər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ca•ter /ˈkeɪtɚ/   v. 

1. to provide food, etc., such as for a party or wedding: [no object]
   a new company, catering for private parties.
   [~ + object]
   The company agreed to cater the reception.
2. to provide or supply what is needed or gives pleasure, etc.:
   [~ + to + object] She caters to her children.

cat•er•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ca•ter  (kā′tər), v.i. 

1. to provide food, service, etc., as for a party or wedding:
   to cater for a banquet.
2. to provide or supply what amuses, is desired, or gives pleasure, comfort, etc. (usually fol. by to or for):
   to cater to popular demand; to cater to an invalid.

v.t. 

3. to provide food and service for:
   to cater a party.

• Anglo-French, equivalent. to acat(er) to buy (see cate) + -our -or²
• verb, verbal use of obsolete cater, Middle English catour, aphetic variant of acatour buyer 1350–1400

ca′ter•ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 2. humor, indulge, please.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

cater / ˈkeɪtə/ verb

1. (intr; followed by for or to) to provide what is required or desired (for)
2. when intr, followed by for: to provide food, services, etc (for): we cater for parties, to cater a banquet

Etymology: 16th Century: from earlier catour purchaser, variant of acatour, from Anglo-Norman acater to buy, ultimately related to Latin acceptāre to accept