What does "dumbwaiter" mean?
A small elevator used to move food etc. from one floor of a building to another.
Dumbwaiter
/ˈdʌmˌweɪtəɹ/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A small elevator used to move food etc. from one floor of a building to another.
- Grammar: dumbwaiter is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: electric dumbwaiter, elevator, food elevator, hoist.
- Useful contrasts: manual dumbwaiter, manual lift, motorized dumbwaiter.
- Usage evidence: When writing he had a copyin machine: while he was a-writin he wouldn't suffer nobody to come in his room: had a dumb-waiter: when he wanted anything he had nothin to do but turn a crank and the dumb-waiter would bring him water or fruit on a plate or anything he wanted.
How to use "dumbwaiter"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "dumbwaiter" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "dumbwaiter" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "dumbwaiter" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "dumbwaiter" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "electric dumbwaiter" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A small elevator used to move food etc. from one floor of a building to another.
"When writing he had a copyin machine: while he was a-writin he wouldn't suffer nobody to come in his room: had a dumb-waiter: when he wanted anything he had nothin to do but turn a crank and the dumb-waiter would bring him water or fruit on a plate or anything he wanted."
- 2 a small elevator used to convey food (or other goods) from one floor of a building to another wordnet
- 3 A table or set of trays on rollers used for serving food. obsolete
"Sauces, wines, all the accessories we wanted, and all of the best, were given out by our host from his dumbwaiter; and when they had made the circuit of the table, he always put them back again."
- 4 A lazy Susan. obsolete
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
manual dumbwaitermanual liftmotorized dumbwaiter
Example
"When writing he had a copyin machine: while he was a-writin he wouldn't suffer nobody to come in his room: had a dumb-waiter: when he wanted anything he had nothin to do but turn a crank and the dumb-waiter would bring him water or fruit on a plate or anything he wanted."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "dumbwaiter"?
Common synonyms include: electric dumbwaiter, elevator, food elevator, hoist, lift, motorized dumbwaiter.
How do you use "dumbwaiter" in a sentence?
When writing he had a copyin machine: while he was a-writin he wouldn't suffer nobody to come in his room: had a dumb-waiter: when he wanted anything he had nothin to do but turn a crank and the dumb-waiter would bring him water or fruit on a plate or anything he wanted.
How do you pronounce "dumbwaiter"?
Pronounced /ˈdʌmˌweɪtəɹ/.
Etymology
From dumb (“unable to speak”) + waiter, originally separate words and describing the portable table's inability to relate gossip after the meal. By the use of the term to describe small service elevators in American homes in the 1840s, it simply meant dumb as “mechanical”, “unable to speak at all”.