Reading Theme:

Language:

Font Size:

📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Cater: Definition, Usage & Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：provide food for events (cater)

cater 🔊

/ˈkeɪtər/

to provide food and drinks for an event like a party or wedding.

Cater meaning illustrated: chef preparing food for a large event buffet.

provide food for events 🔊

➕

/prəˈvaɪd fuːd fɔːr ɪˈvɛnts/

To supply food and beverages for social gatherings such as parties or weddings.

📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'captare' (to take), via Old French 'acater'.

💡 Mnemonic

Cater rhymes with 'waiter' – both involve serving and providing for others.

📖 Example

We hired a local company to cater our wedding reception with delicious Italian food. 🔊 We engaged a local company to provide food and drinks for our wedding reception with delicious Italian cuisine.

🔗 Collocations

cater an event – to provide food and drinks for a specific occasion

cater for a party – to supply food and beverages for a celebration

catering services – businesses that provide food for events

🔄 Synonyms

provide (v.) – to make something available for use

serve (v.) – to provide food or drink to someone

supply (v.) – to give something that is needed

🚫 Antonyms

neglect (v.) – to fail to care for or provide

ignore (v.) – to pay no attention to needs

🌱 Derivatives

caterer (n.) – a person or company that provides food for events

catering (n.) – the business of providing food and drink for events

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'captare' meaning 'to seize', it evolved through Old French to mean providing provisions, now common in food service and customer needs.

Meaning 2：meet specific needs (cater)

cater 🔊

/ˈkeɪtər/

to provide what a particular group of people wants or needs.

Cater to needs: store clerk helping a family find suitable products.

meet specific needs 🔊

➕

/miːt spəˈsɪfɪk niːdz/

To supply what is desired or required by a particular audience or demographic.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

This shopping mall really caters to families with young children, offering a large indoor playground and parent rooms. 🔊 This shopping mall truly accommodates families with young children by providing a large indoor playground and parent rooms.

🔗 Collocations

cater to – to provide what is wanted by a specific group

cater for needs – to supply requirements

cater to preferences – to accommodate likes or choices

🔄 Synonyms

accommodate (v.) – to fit in with the wishes or needs of

satisfy (v.) – to meet the expectations or needs

serve (v.) – to be of use in meeting requirements

🚫 Antonyms

disregard (v.) – to ignore or pay no attention to

overlook (v.) – to fail to notice or consider