Definition

1. Verb (Intransitive):

   • To eat the main meal of the day, typically in the evening (dinner). It implies a more formal or substantial meal than simply "eating."
   • To eat a meal, especially dinner, at a restaurant or as a guest.

2. Verb (Transitive):

   • To provide or host a dinner for someone; to give a dinner to.

Usage and Examples

• Intransitive Verb:

  • We usually dine at seven o'clock. (We usually eat our evening meal at seven.)
  • They prefer to dine out on weekends. (They prefer to eat at restaurants on weekends.)

• Transitive Verb:

  • The ambassador dined the visiting diplomats. (The ambassador hosted a dinner for the visiting diplomats.)
  • I will dine my colleagues to celebrate the project's success. (I will treat my colleagues to dinner.)

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "to dine on/off something": To have a particular food as the main part of one's dinner.
  • Last night we dined on fresh lobster. (Our dinner last night consisted of fresh lobster.)
• "to dine out": To eat a meal (especially dinner) away from home, typically at a restaurant.
  • Let's dine out tonight; I don't feel like cooking.
• "to wine and dine (someone)": To entertain someone lavishly with good food and drink.
  • The company wined and dined the potential investors.

Variants and Related Words

• Diner (n): 1. A person who is eating a meal, especially in a restaurant. 2. A small, often informal restaurant.
• Dining (n): The activity of eating a meal.
  • The dining room is ready.
• Dinner (n): The main meal of the day.

Synonyms

• Feast (v): To eat and drink sumptuously. (More elaborate than "dine.")
• Sup (v, archaic/literary): To eat supper or dinner.
• Eat (v): A more general term for consuming food.

Phrasal Verbs / Common Phrases

• Dine in: To eat a meal at home.
  • We decided to dine in and watch a movie.
• Dine out on (an experience/story): To gain social credit or entertainment value by telling a story repeatedly.
  • He dined out on that story of his adventure for years.

Idioms

• To dine with Duke Humphrey: (Historical idiom) To go without a meal; to go hungry.
  • With no money for food, he feared he would be dining with Duke Humphrey.

Verb

1. give dinner to; host for dinner
   • I'm wining and dining my friends
2. have supper; eat dinner
   • We often dine with friends in this restaurant