Definition

1. Noun:

   • A meal where guests serve themselves from dishes arranged on a table: A style of dining where food is placed on a central table or sideboard, and people serve themselves.
   • A piece of dining room furniture: A long, low cabinet with a flat top, used for storing dishes, linens, and serving food.

2. Verb:

   • To strike repeatedly with force: To hit something hard and often, typically used for wind, waves, or other natural forces.
   • To knock or push someone or something forcefully: To subject someone or something to strong physical impact.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The hotel offers a breakfast buffet every morning. (The hotel provides a self-service breakfast meal.)
  • The fine china is displayed in the antique oak buffet. (The expensive dishes are shown in the old oak sideboard.)

• Verb:

  • Strong winds buffeted the coastal town all night. (Powerful winds struck the town by the sea repeatedly.)
  • The small boat was buffeted by the rough waves. (The boat was hit forcefully by the large, turbulent waves.)

Advanced Usage

• "to buffet someone/something": To subject someone or something to repeated difficulties or adversities.

  • The company was buffeted by a series of financial crises. (The company was hit hard by multiple financial problems.)

• "to be buffeted by": To be affected or assailed by strong forces or problems.

  • The region is often buffeted by storms in the winter. (The area is frequently struck by storms.)

Variants and Related Words

• Buffet car (n): A railway carriage where meals and snacks are served, often from a counter.

  • We had lunch in the buffet car on the train.

• Buffeting (n): The action or effect of striking repeatedly with force.

  • The plane experienced severe buffeting during the storm.

Synonyms

• Noun (meal): Smorgasbord, self-service meal.
• Verb: Batter, pound, pummel, strike.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(This word is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. The action is typically expressed by the verb "buffet" followed directly by an object.)

Related Idioms

• "Buffet of fate": To be subjected to the harsh and unpredictable blows of destiny or misfortune.
  • Throughout his life, he felt buffeted by fate. (He felt repeatedly struck by bad luck throughout his life.)

Noun

1. usually inexpensive bar
2. a meal set out on a buffet at which guests help themselves
3. a piece of furniture that stands at the side of a dining room; has shelves and drawers

Verb

1. strike, beat repeatedly
   • The wind buffeted him
2. strike against forcefully
   • Winds buffeted the tent