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cafeteria

noun

An eating place where people pick out food at a counter and carry it to a table themselves.

Example sentences

  • “The students eat lunch together in the school cafeteria.”
  • “The hospital cafeteria stays open all night for doctors and nurses.”

Attached to schools, hospitals, and offices rather than the street. "Cafeteria-style" describes any system where you pick only what you want.

Synonyms for cafeteria

  • canteen
  • lunchroom
  • dining hall

Related words