supper

Everyday

1. Supper is the evening meal, especially a light or simple one, or the last meal before bed. tree →
2. (UK, regional) In some families and regions "supper" means the main evening meal, the same as dinner or tea. tree →
3. (Bible, church) The Last Supper was the meal Jesus shared with his disciples the night before he died; the Lord's Supper is another name for Holy Communion. tree →

In the lessons

Different English-speaking families use dinner, tea and supper differently: in northern England "tea" is the evening meal and "supper" a snack before bed; in the USA and Canada "supper" and "dinner" are often the same. In RE, the Last Supper is painted in a famous picture by Leonardo da Vinci. Phrases: have supper, at supper, eat your supper, a fish supper (Scotland: fish and chips), sing for your supper (do something in return for help).

Examples

• We had soup and toast for supper. tree →
• Come in, it's time for supper! tree →
• At the Last Supper, Jesus broke the bread. tree →
• Grandma makes cocoa for supper before bed. tree →
• In Scotland we got a fish supper from the chip shop. tree →
• Our church shares the Lord's Supper once a month. tree →
• You'll have to sing for your supper and help wash up. tree →
• Servants came, and he ordered supper. tree →

Note

Usually uncountable ("have supper", no "a"), but "a hot supper" is fine. Spelling: double p — supper (meal); super (great) has one p and says "SOO-per".