Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Buffet

//bəˈfeɪ// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun

1
A counter or sideboard from which food and drinks are served or may be bought.
"They stayed together during three dances, went out on to the terrace, explored wherever they were permitted to explore, paid two visits to the buffet, and enjoyed themselves much in the same way as if they had been school-children surreptitiously breaking loose from an assembly of grown-ups."
2
A blow or cuff with or as if with the hand, or by any other solid object or the wind. countable
"On his cheek a buffet fell."
3
a piece of furniture that stands at the side of a dining room; has shelves and drawers wordnet
4
Food laid out in this way, to which diners serve themselves.
"We'll be serving supper buffet style."
5
The vibration of an aircraft when flying in or approaching a stall, caused by separation of airflow from the aircraft's wings. uncountable
"The aircraft configuration was such that there was little or no warning of the stall onset. The inboard slats were extended, and therefore, the flow separation from the stall would be limited to the outboard segment of the left wing and would not be felt by the left horizontal stabilizer. There would be little or no buffet. The DFDR also indicated that there was some turbulence, which could have masked any aerodynamic buffeting. Since the roll to the left began at V₂ + 6 and since the pilots were aware that V₂ was well above the aircraft's stall speed, they probably did not suspect that the roll to the left indicated a stall. In fact, the roll probably confused them, especially since the stickshaker had not activated."

Show 3 more definitions

6
usually inexpensive bar wordnet
7
A small low stool; a hassock.
8
a meal set out on a buffet at which guests help themselves wordnet

Verb

1
To strike with a buffet; to cuff; to slap. transitive
"They spit in his face and buffeted him."
2
strike, beat repeatedly wordnet
3
To aggressively challenge, denounce, or criticise. figuratively, transitive
"Is Burns obscure because he was gay and therefore ignorable until the Gay Rights Movement began? Or does he largely deserve his neglect? An answer requires that one examine not only Burns' books, but also the critical environment in which he was much buffeted — which, we are told, drove him to an early grave."
4
strike against forcefully wordnet
5
To affect as with blows; to strike repeatedly; to strive with or contend against.
"to buffet the billows"

Show 2 more definitions

6
To deaden the sound of (bells) by muffling the clapper.
7
To struggle, contend; also in figurative or extended use: to move as if driven by force. intransitive
"Again the chirpy tone did nothing to pacify the woman holding on to her ankles. Soon Zoe was buffeting back and forward through the hole."

Etymology

Etymology 1

Inherited from Middle English buffet (“stool”), from Middle French buffet (“side table”), from Old French buffet, of unknown origin. The modern pronunciation is remodelled after modern French buffet.

Etymology 2

From Middle English buffet (“buffet”), from Old French buffet, diminutive of buffe, cognate with Italian buffetto. See buffer, buffoon, and compare German puffen (“to jostle, to hustle”).

Etymology 3

From Middle English buffeten, from Old French buffeter, from the noun (see above).

Next best steps

Find stronger synonyms See usage examples Check pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: buffet