dining-hall
Definition
- Noun:
- A large room in an institution: Specifically, a large room within a college, university, or similar institution that is designated for eating meals.
- A communal eating area: A hall where many people, such as students or members of a community, gather to dine together.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The students gathered in the dining-hall for breakfast.
- The university's main dining-hall can serve hundreds of people at once.
Advanced Usage
- "in the dining-hall": Used to specify the location where a communal meal is taking place.
- All announcements will be made in the dining-hall during lunch.
Variants and Related Words
- Dining room (n): A room in a house or hotel where meals are eaten. (Note: This is typically smaller and more private than a dining-hall.)
- Refectory (n): A room for meals, especially in a monastery, college, or similar institution. This is a close synonym for "dining-hall" in an academic or religious context.
- Cafeteria (n): A restaurant in which customers serve themselves from a counter and pay before eating. This can sometimes be located within or be synonymous with a dining-hall.
Synonyms
- Refectory: A dining hall, especially in a college or monastery.
- Mess hall: A large room where members of the armed forces eat together.
- Commons: A dining hall at a school or college (often used in proper names, e.g., "the Commons").
Related Phrases
- Hall of residence: A building for student accommodation, which often contains a dining-hall.
- Her room is in the same building as the dining-hall.
Related Idioms
Noun
-
a large room at a college or university; used especially for dining
