cafeteria
caf-e-te-ri-a · noun
Definitions
noun
- 1.
A self-service restaurant, typically found in schools, hospitals, or workplaces, where customers choose food from a counter and carry it to tables.
- 2.
A style of restaurant where customers serve themselves from a selection of dishes displayed on a counter.
Forms
plural: cafeterias
Phrases & expressions
- •cafeteria-style — a method of serving where people help themselves from a selection
- •cafeteria plan — a benefits program where employees choose from various options
Related words
Etymology
From American Spanish cafetería ("coffee shop"), derived from café ("coffee") with the suffix -tería indicating a place. The word entered English in the late 19th century from Mexican Spanish, originally referring to a coffee shop but later extending to self-service restaurants.