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Waiter vs Cater - What's the difference?

waiter | cater |

In obsolete terms the difference between waiter and cater

is that waiter is a vessel or tray on which something is carried, as dishes, etc.; a salver while cater is to cut diagonally.

As nouns the difference between waiter and cater

is that waiter is a male or sometimes female attendant who serves customers in a restaurant, café or similar while cater is a provider; a purveyor; a caterer.

As a verb cater is

to provide food professionally for a special occasion.

waiter

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A male or sometimes female attendant who or similar.
  • * , title=The Mirror and the Lamp
    • , chapter=2 citation , passage=She was a fat, round little woman, richly apparelled in velvet and lace, […]; and the way she laughed, cackling like a hen, the way she talked to the waiters and the maid, […]—all these unexpected phenomena impelled one to hysterical mirth, and made one class her with such immortally ludicrous types as Ally Sloper, the Widow Twankey, or Miss Moucher.}}
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
    • , chapter=5 citation , passage=A waiter brought his aperitif, which was a small scotch and soda, and as he sipped it gratefully he sighed.
      ‘Civilized,’ he said to Mr. Campion. ‘Humanizing.’ […] ‘Cigars and summer days and women in big hats with swansdown face-powder, that's what it reminds me of.’}}
  • (literally) Someone who waits for somebody or something; a person who is waiting.
  • (obsolete) A vessel or tray on which something is carried, as dishes, etc.; a salver.

    • Derived terms

    * landwaiter * tide waiter

    Related terms

    * wait * waitress

    See also

    * barista * bartender * * server

    References

    cater

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To provide food professionally for a special occasion.
    • Did you hire someone to cater our party next week?
  • To provide things to satisfy a person or a need, to serve.
    • I always wanted someone to cater to my every whim.
    Derived terms
    * caterer * cater for * cater to

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A provider; a purveyor; a caterer.

    • Etymology 2

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To cut diagonally.
    • (Halliwell)

    Etymology 3

    (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The four of cards or dice.
    • (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

    * ----