noun · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/ˈkeɪt(ə)ɹɪŋ/
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈkeɪ.tə.ɹɪŋ/
General-American:/ˈkeɪ.tɚ.ɪŋ/
General-American:[ˈkeɪ.ɾɚ.ɪŋ]
New-Jersey:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:K EY1 T ER0 IH0 NG
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The business of providing food and related services; foodservice.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Philippines, UK, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The business of providing such services for special occasions.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The act of one who caters (to something).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
present participle and gerund of cater
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
providing food and services
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: occupation, business, job, line of work, line
History
Etymology
No etymology was provided for this word.
Across languages
Translations
41 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
تَمْوِين
(tamwīn)
— the business of providing food and related services
Belarusian:
ке́йтэрынг
(kjéjterynh)
— the business of providing food and related services
Bulgarian:
ке́търинг
(kétǎring)
— the business of providing food and related services
Catalan:
càtering
— the business of providing food and related services
Chinese Mandarin:
外燴 /外烩
(wàihuì)
— the business of providing food and related services
Czech:
catering
— the business of providing food and related services
Czech:
ketering
— the business of providing food and related services
Dutch:
catering
— the business of providing food and related services
Finnish:
ateriapalvelu
— the business of providing food and related services
Finnish:
pitopalvelu
— the business of providing food and related services
Finnish:
catering
— the business of providing food and related services
Finnish:
ruokahuolto
— the business of providing food and related services
French:
restauration
— the business of providing food and related services
French:
traiteur
— the business of providing food and related services
German:
Verpflegung
— the business of providing food and related services
German:
Nahrungsversorgung
— the business of providing food and related services
German:
Catering
— the business of providing food and related services
Hebrew:
הַסְעַדָה
— the business of providing food and related services
Hungarian:
élelmezés
— the business of providing food and related services
Hungarian:
catering
— the business of providing food and related services
Indonesian:
jasa boga
— the business of providing food and related services
Indonesian:
katering
— the business of providing food and related services
Irish:
lónadóireacht
— the business of providing food and related services
Italian:
ristorazione
— the business of providing food and related services
Japanese:
ケータリング
(kētaringu)
— the business of providing food and related services
Korean:
케이터링
(keiteoring)
— the business of providing food and related services
Macedonian:
ке́теринг
(kétering)
— the business of providing food and related services
Malay:
katering
— the business of providing food and related services
Malay:
penyajian
— the business of providing food and related services
Northern Ohlone:
wattimak 'ammamak
— the business of providing food and related services
Persian:
کیترینگ
(keytering)
— the business of providing food and related services
Polish:
catering
— the business of providing food and related services
Polish:
katering
— the business of providing food and related services
Portuguese:
catering
— the business of providing food and related services
Russian:
ке́йтеринг
(kéjtɛring)
— the business of providing food and related services
Spanish:
servicio banquetero
— the business of providing food and related services
Spanish:
catering
— the business of providing food and related services
Spanish:
cáterin
— the business of providing food and related services
Spanish:
cátering
— the business of providing food and related services
Spanish:
banquetería
— the business of providing food and related services
Ukrainian:
ке́йтеринг
(kéjterynh)
— the business of providing food and related services