cybercafe
Definition
- Noun:
- A café or coffee shop that provides public access to computers connected to the internet, typically for a fee, allowing customers to use the internet while they eat or drink.
Usage
- The word cybercafe is a compound noun. It is used to describe a specific type of business establishment.
- It functions as a regular countable noun (e.g., , ).
Examples
- Noun:
- Before smartphones were common, travelers often went to a cybercafe to check their email.
- The cybercafe on the corner charges five dollars per hour for internet access.
- Many cybercafes also serve coffee and light snacks.
Advanced Usage
- The term was most prevalent in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when personal computers and home internet access were less ubiquitous. Its usage has declined in many regions due to the widespread availability of Wi-Fi in cafes, smartphones, and personal laptops.
Variants and Related Words
- Internet cafe: A very common synonym for cybercafe.
- PC bang (especially in South Korea): A type of gaming-focused internet cafe.
- LAN center / gaming cafe: An establishment focused primarily on multiplayer computer gaming, often with high-performance PCs. While similar, these are more specialized than a general cybercafe.
Synonyms
- Internet cafe
- Computer cafe
Antonyms
- There is no direct antonym, but contrasting concepts include:
- Traditional cafe (a cafe without internet-connected computers for customer use).
- Library (provides internet access but is not a commercial food/drink establishment).
Noun
-
a cafe whose customers sit at computer terminals and log on to the internet while they eat and drink
