buffet

A meal with several dishes set out so that people can choose and take their own food.

• Breakfast is a buffet.
• We helped ourselves to food from the buffet.
• Does the hotel offer a dinner buffet?

Similar words: smorgasbord

Common phrases: breakfast buffet, buffet lunch, buffet dinner, hot buffet

A counter or room where you can buy drinks and small meals.

• We bought tea at the station buffet.
• The train's buffet was closed.
• She ordered a sandwich from the buffet.

Similar words: snack bar, refreshment room

Common phrases: station buffet, buffet car, railway buffet

A piece of furniture used to store plates, glasses, and tablecloths.

• The plates are in the buffet.
• We bought an antique buffet for the dining room.
• She stored the tablecloths in the buffet's drawers.

Similar words: sideboard

Common phrases: antique buffet, wooden buffet, dining room buffet

A hit with a hand or fist.

• He received a buffet to the head.
• One sharp buffet knocked her sideways.
• The guard answered with a buffet of his fist.

Similar words: blow, punch, slap

Common phrases: a hard buffet, buffet to something, receive a buffet

To hit or push something repeatedly and strongly, or cause it repeated difficulties.

• Strong winds buffeted the house.
• The boat was buffeted by waves all night.
• Repeated crises have buffeted the economy.

How to use it: be buffeted by something (The ship was buffeted by huge waves.)

Similar words: batter, pound, pummel

Common phrases: buffet a boat, buffet the coast, buffet the economy

To hit someone with your hand or fist.

• The guard buffeted the prisoner.
• He buffeted the boy with his open hand.
• She raised her arms as he buffeted her head.

Similar words: hit, strike, slap, punch

Common phrases: buffet someone, buffet someone's head

To attack someone strongly with criticism or difficult questions.

• His critics buffeted him relentlessly.
• The press buffeted the minister with accusations.
• She was buffeted by criticism throughout the debate.

How to use it: buffet someone with something (The reporters buffeted him with hostile questions.)

Similar words: assail, attack, berate

Common phrases: buffet someone, buffet with criticism