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lunch

/lʌntʃ/
noun★Beginner— midday meal
neutral

A meal eaten in the middle of the day.

She packed her lunch for work today.

She prepared food to eat during her midday break.

What time do you have lunch?

At what time do you eat your midday meal?

💡

Commonly refers to the meal itself or the time it is eaten. In some contexts, 'lunch' can also refer to a social event where food is served, e.g., 'a business lunch'.

Collocations

have lunchto eat the midday mealpack lunchto prepare food to take and eat elsewherebusiness luncha meal meeting with professional purposesschool luncha meal provided at school, often during a break

Synonyms

midday mealnoonday mealluncheon

Antonyms

breakfastdinnersupper

💡Pro Tip

Common Mistake: 'Lunch break' vs. 'Lunch time'

'Lunch break' refers to the period during which you take your lunch, while 'lunch time' refers to the specific time you eat. Example: 'I take my lunch break from 12:00 to 1:00 PM.'

⚡Gold Rule

Capitalization

Do not capitalize 'lunch' unless it is the first word in a sentence or part of a proper noun (e.g., 'Lunch at the Ritz').

Plural Form

The plural form is 'lunches' (e.g., 'We have three lunches scheduled this week.').

📖Word Origin

From Middle English 'luncheon' (a thick piece or hunk), derived from 'lunch' (a hunk of bread), possibly from dialectal English 'lump'. The modern sense of a midday meal emerged in the 19th century.

📝Usage Notes

In American English, 'lunch' typically refers to the midday meal, while in British English, 'lunch' can also refer to a light afternoon meal. The term is widely used in both formal and informal contexts.

English Dictionary

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