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# dinner

noun (a dinner, dinners; dinner — uncountable)

«dinner» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Dinner is the main meal of the day, usually eaten in the evening. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dinner/#m1)
2. In some parts of the UK, Ireland and Australia, dinner means the meal in the middle of the day (lunch), and the evening meal is «tea». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dinner/#m2)
3. A dinner is a formal party with a meal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dinner/#m3)

### In the lessons

In everyday life, «dinner time» brings families together, and table manners matter: wash hands, wait until everyone has food, say please and thank you. At school in the UK «school dinners» and «dinner ladies» are the lunchtime meal and helpers. Phrases: «have dinner», «make dinner», «dinner is ready», «dinner party».

### Examples

- What's for dinner tonight? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dinner/#x1)
- We have dinner at six o'clock. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dinner/#x2)
- Wash your hands before dinner. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dinner/#x3)
- Dad is making spaghetti for dinner. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dinner/#x4)
- I had school dinner today. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dinner/#x5)
- Grandma invited us to Sunday dinner. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dinner/#x6)
- Please set the table for dinner. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dinner/#x7)
- They went out for a birthday dinner. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dinner/#x8)
- For dinner the Fox served soup. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dinner/#x9)

### Note

Usually no «a»: «have dinner», «after dinner»; but «a lovely dinner» with an adjective. Spelled with double n; do not confuse with «diner» (a person eating, or a small US restaurant). Meal words differ by country: breakfast, lunch/dinner, tea/dinner/supper.

## In Jewish tradition

Here it means a simple meal, not a formal party. The Hebrew word is often taken to mean a modest portion or daily meal.

**Interpretation.** The proverb teaches that a poor meal eaten in love is better than a rich feast eaten in hatred, so peace at home matters more than wealth.

### Examples

- Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. (Writings PRO.15.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/dinner/#x1)

### Note

Usually no «a»: «have dinner», «after dinner»; but «a lovely dinner» with an adjective. Spelled with double n; do not confuse with «diner» (a person eating, or a small US restaurant). Meal words differ by country: breakfast, lunch/dinner, tea/dinner/supper.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «dinner» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dinner/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«dinner» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/dinner.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «dinner» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/dinner/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«dinner» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/dinner.html) on Mova free.