Noun

Singular dinner

Plural countable and uncountable; plural dinners

dinner (countable and uncountable; plural dinners)

1. The main meal of the day, often eaten in the evening.
2. A meal given to an animal.

   Give the dog its dinner.

3. A midday meal (in a context in which the lighter evening meal is called supper).
4. A formal meal for many people eaten for a special occasion.

Dinner is the name of the main meal of the day. Depending upon region and social class, it may be the second or third meal of the day. A simple dinner typically consists of meat, fish, poultry or other high-protein, served with one or two vegetables and/or with a grain or cereal product - especially bread, but potatoes, rice, pasta, and noodles are also common. Any or all of these components may be served with a hot or cold gravy or sauce.

In general, people in rural parts of America, Canada, and other Anglophone countries eat breakfast, dinner and supper. Germans traditionally stick to the same pattern. In these cases, dinner typically happens between midday and early afternoon. But whether town or country, wherever the dominant industry of an area involves hard labor (e.g., farming, mining, timber trade), the midday meal is an important feature because it divides the day's labor in half and provides well-earned refreshment. The evening meal is smaller than the midday meal and is commonly called 'supper'. In Scotland and northern England, supper is almost invariably called 'tea' (specifically, "high tea" - which does not indicate high formality but indicates that some kind of meat, fish, etc., is being served).

People who live in cities and towns, and especially those who work in "white collar" positions, typically eat dinner in the evening. Their midday meal is called lunch (or luncheon) and is often a small and quick meal, although a business lunch can be large, heavy and protracted.

In the north of England the word dinner usually refers to the midday meal (though may also be used interchangeably with "lunch"), where the term "dinner-ladies" traditionally refers to women who look after the cooking of lunch in schools. The evening or after-work meal is referred to as tea. However, the upper and upper-middle classes nationwide invariably eat lunch at midday and dinner (or supper, if it is a small meal) in the evening.

The word "dinner" comes from the French word dîner, the "main meal of the day", from Old French disner. An individual dinner can also be a more sophisticated meal, such as a banquet or feast.

On holidays, such as American and Canadian Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and occasionally on weekends, people who normally eat dinner in the evening will step back in time and eat their special holiday dinner in the early afternoon.