- /
ˈbʊfeɪ ˈbʌfeɪ/ a counter where light refreshments are served - /
ˈbʊfeɪ/ a meal at which guests help themselves from a number of dishes and often eat standing up (as modifier): a buffet lunch - /
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
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
buf•fet1 /ˈbʌfɪt/USA pronunciation
n.
v. [~ + object]
buf•fet2 /bəˈfeɪ, bʊ-/USA pronunciation n. [countable]
adj. [before a noun]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- [countable]
- a blow delivered with the hand or fist.
v. [~ + object]
- to strike against or push repeatedly: The wind buffeted the house.
- to struggle against;
battle:buffeted by a series of financial disasters.
buf•fet2 /bəˈfeɪ, bʊ-/USA pronunciation n. [countable]
- Fooda meal laid out so that guests may serve themselves:a buffet of cold cuts, salads, and desserts.
- a counter, bar, or table for food or refreshments.
- a restaurant with such a counter or table.
adj. [before a noun]
- Foodserved from or as a buffet:a buffet supper.
buf•fet1
(buf′it),USA pronunciation n., v., -fet•ed, -fet•ing.
n.
v.t.
v.i.
buf′fet•er, n.
buf•fet2 (bə fā′, bŏŏ- or, esp. for adj., bo̅o̅′fā; Brit. buf′it),USA pronunciation n.
adj.
n.
- a blow, as with the hand or fist.
- a violent shock or concussion.
v.t.
- to strike, as with the hand or fist.
- to strike against or push repeatedly:The wind buffeted the house.
- to contend against;
battle.
v.i.
- to struggle with blows of hand or fist.
- to force one's way by a fight, struggle, etc.
- Old French buffe a blow + -et -et
- Middle English 1175–1225
- 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged slap, cuff, box, hit, sock, wallop.
buf•fet2 (bə fā′, bŏŏ- or, esp. for adj., bo̅o̅′fā; Brit. buf′it),USA pronunciation n.
- Furniturea sideboard or cabinet for holding china, table linen, etc.
- Fooda meal laid out on a table or sideboard so that guests may serve themselves.
- a counter, bar, or the like, for lunch or refreshments.
- a restaurant containing such a counter or bar.
adj.
- 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::
- (transitive)
to knock against or about; batter - (transitive)
to hit, esp with the fist; cuff to force (one's way), as through a crowd - (intransitive)
to struggle; battle
a blow, esp with a fist or hand aerodynamic excitation of an aircraft structure by separated flows
'buffeted' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):