Standard Lemma guide
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
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.
noun
A male or female attendant who serves customers at their tables in a restaurant, café or similar.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Someone who waits for somebody or something; a person who is waiting.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A person working as an attendant at the London Stock Exchange.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A vessel or tray on which something is carried, as dishes, etc.; a salver. (See etymology of dumbwaiter.)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A custom house officer; a tide waiter.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A watchman.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To work as a waiter.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: stative
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
a person whose occupation is to serve at table (as in a restaurant)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: server
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: dining-room attendant, restaurant attendant
Narrower terms: carhop, counterperson, counterwoman, counterman, sommelier, wine waiter, wine steward, waitress
noun
a person who waits or awaits
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: person, individual, someone, somebody, mortal, soul
Narrower terms: lurker, skulker, lurcher
History
From late 14th century Middle English waiter, wayter (“attendant, watchman”). By surface analysis, wait + -er. Sense of "servant who waits at tables" is from late 15th century, originally in reference to household servants; in reference to inns, eating houses, etc., it is attested from 1660s. Feminine form waitress first recorded 1834. The London Stock Exchange sense harks back to the early days of trading in coffee-shops.
Across languages
211 source translations are retained for this English entry.
