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waiter

WAY-tur/ˈweɪtɚ/UKWAY-tuh/ˈweɪtə/

Pluralwaiters

Verbwaiters, waitering, waitered

7 meanings of waiter

Practice

  1. 1
    nouncountable
    A person whose job is to bring food and drinks to customers at their tables.

    Like a helper who carries your food from the kitchen to your table.

    Our waiter brought the menus and poured us some water.

    She works as a waiter at a busy downtown café.

    Similarserver, waitperson

    Note
  2. 2
    nouncountable
    A person who is waiting for someone or something.

    She was a patient waiter, never complaining about the long line.

    The waiters outside the clinic grew restless as the hours passed.

    Note
  3. 3
    verbintransitive
    To work bringing food and drinks to people at their tables.

    I waiter three nights a week to earn extra money.

    He waitered all summer at a busy seaside hotel.

    Similarserve

    Note
  4. 4
    nounhistoricalcountable
    A helper who worked at the London Stock Exchange, carrying messages between members.

    The waiter at the exchange handed the broker a folded note.

    Several waiters hurried between the trading posts with messages.

    Similarattendant, messenger

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 5
    nounobsolete
    A tray used for carrying dishes or other items.

    The maid set the cups on a silver waiter and carried them in.

    He polished the waiter until it gleamed before the guests arrived.

    Note
  2. 6
    nounobsolete
    An officer at a port who checked goods coming off ships to collect taxes.

    The waiter boarded the ship to inspect the cargo before unloading.

    Smugglers tried to slip past the waiters guarding the harbor.

    Note
  3. 7
    nounobsolete
    A person who kept watch or guarded a place, especially at night.

    The waiter paced the city walls through the cold night.

    Two waiters guarded the gate until the morning bells rang.

    Note

Practice

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Origin

From Middle English waiter, meaning "attendant" or "watchman." It comes from the verb wait plus -er. The meaning "servant who serves at tables" appeared later.