lunches

1. 1
   noun

   Plural of lunch.

   Catered lunches arrive at noon for the conference attendees.

   The diner's hearty lunches draw crowds from nearby offices.

   Note

   The plural counts meals rather than naming the habit. Lunch stays uncountable in "Lunch is at noon," but separate meals or occasions take the plural, as in catered lunches or working lunches. The -es follows the hissing -ch ending, as in benches and churches. The same spelling also serves the verb, as in "she lunches", so only the sentence shows whether lunches are being eaten or someone lunches.

2. 2
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present indicative of lunch.

   Whoever finishes the report early lunches before the team meeting.

   The manager often lunches near the waterfront when the weather is nice.

   Note

   Two constructions share this form. Most often it stands alone, with a place, time or companion after it: lunches near the waterfront, lunches at one, lunches with a client. It can also take a direct object, meaning to treat someone to the meal. In that use the person being fed is the object, and the one paying is the subject.

   She lunches her new clients at the club before any contract is signed.

   Every December the firm lunches its retired staff in the boardroom.

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