noun
buffet
BUUF-ay
noun
1
A meal set out on a table or counter for guests to serve themselves.
"The wedding reception featured a buffet of local dishes."
"He went back for seconds at the breakfast buffet."
verb
1
To strike or knock about repeatedly, especially by wind, waves, or force.
"The small boat was buffeted by strong winds all night."
How to Use Buffet
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often a self-serve style meal; also used as a verb meaning to be repeatedly battered by something like wind or criticism.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
all-you-can-eat buffet
buffeted by criticism
buffeted by winds
Word Forms
buffeted past tense, buffetted past tense, buffets plural, buffets plural, buffets singular
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The wedding reception featured a _____ of local dishes.
Etymology
From Middle French "buffet," meaning a side table, of unknown deeper origin; the modern pronunciation was later reshaped to match French.