catering

Everyday

1. Providing food and drink for an event or a group of people, as a job. tree →
2. (verb form) Catering for or to: providing what a group needs or wants. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life, a catering company makes food for weddings and parties; school catering staff run the canteen. In maths, catering problems ask for food per person: 60 guests × 2 sandwiches = 120 sandwiches. Phrases: catering company, school catering, cater for, self-catering (holiday where you cook for yourself).

Examples

• The catering for the party was done by a local café. tree →
• The school's catering staff cook lunch for 300 pupils. tree →
• We stayed in self-catering cottages on holiday. tree →
• This club caters for children of all ages. tree →
• The menu is catering to vegetarians too. tree →
• If each of 40 guests eats 3 sandwiches, the catering needs 120 sandwiches. tree →

Note

Uncountable: some catering, not «a catering». A caterer is the person or company. «Cater for» is common in UK English, «cater to» in US English. Self-catering means you make your own meals.