luncheon
nounverbattested in dialogue
- United States//ˈlʌn.tʃən//
A formal meal served in the middle of the day.
noun
- 1
A formal meal served in the middle of the day.
Most people thought the food at the luncheon was mediocre.
Now that she had rested and had fed from the luncheon tray Mrs. Broome had just removed, she had reverted to her normal gaiety. She looked cool in a grey tailored cotton dress with a terracotta scarf and shoes and her hair a black silk helmet.
Superintendent Chalmers: Well, Seymour, I made it — despite your directions. Principal Skinner: Ahhh, Superintendent Chalmers! Welcome! I hope you're prepared for an unforgettable luncheon.
- 2
A large, cheap, processed sausage served in thin slices.
Ian bought the luncheon since it was on special.
Filled Roll (x2) 1x luncheon, tomato, lettuce, and mayonnaise / 1x cheese and onion
- 3
datedAny midday meal; lunch.
"Have you had luncheon?"
- 4
obsoleteA lump of food.
- 5
obsoleteA portion of food taken at any time except at a regular meal; an informal or light repast.
At twilight in the summer there is never anybody to fear—man, woman, or cat—in the chambers and at that hour the mice come out. They do not eat parchment or foolscap or red tape, but they eat the luncheon crumbs.
Etymology
Of uncertain origin. Possibly derived from an earlier *lumpchin, *lumpchen, a diminutive of lump (“chunk, parcel of food, lunch”), thus related to lunch. It is unclear which came first: whether lunch is a shortening of luncheon, or whether luncheon is an augmentation of lunch. Possibly also a dissimilatory form of or influenced by nuncheon (“light snack taken in the afternoon”). Noun sense 2 (“sausage”) is likely a ellipsis of luncheon sausage or luncheon meat.
verb
- 1
datedTo eat luncheon.
In the meantime, while ladies are luncheoning on chicken pie, or coursing in whirling britskas, performing all the singular ceremonies of a London morning in the heart of the season[…]
- 2
rareTo serve luncheon to.
Towns welcomed us in our hundreds; M.P.’s luncheoned us, manufacturers turned out their warehouses, decorated them and feasted us; private families tea’d us on their lawns, but we were so true to our art that we always returned to—“papers!”
This gentleman was presented by Colonel C. E. S. Wood, and was entertained here—wined, dined, tead, breakfasted, coffeed and luncheoned—and we bought his pictures.
[…] entertained him at the Bohemian Club; Edward D. Kneass, Jr., ’18, extended to him the greeting of the San Francisco Press Club; and Frank J. Taylor, ’18, luncheoned him at the Honolulu Club.
A number of friends of Mrs. H. M. Richey, wife of H. M., luncheoned her on Thursday at the Warden Hotel.
Forms
- plural
- luncheons
- past tense
- luncheoned
- past participle
- luncheoned
- present participle
- luncheoning
- third person singular
- luncheons
luncheon · A formal meal served in the middle of the day.
lunchtime · The time or hour at or around which lunch is normally eaten.lung · A biological organ of vertebrates that controls breathing and…Lung · A surname.