dumb-waiter

A waiter places a dessert on the dumb-waiter in the dining room.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A movable platform for serving food: A "dumb-waiter" is a small elevator or a set of shelves used to transport food, dishes, or other items between floors of a building, especially in restaurants or large homes.
   • A revolving tray on a table: A "dumb-waiter" can also refer to a rotating stand placed on a dining table, used to hold dishes or condiments for easy access by diners.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The kitchen staff sent the meal up to the dining room via the dumb-waiter. (A small platform elevator used to move food between floors.)
  • We placed the salt and pepper on the dumb-waiter so everyone could reach them. (A revolving tray on the table for serving items.)

Advanced Usage

• "to operate a dumb-waiter": to control or use the device for moving items.

  • The waiter pulled the rope to operate the dumb-waiter and send the dishes upstairs. (He used the mechanism to transport items.)

• "a dumb-waiter in a restaurant": a common feature in older or multi-story establishments for efficient service.

  • The restaurant’s dumb-waiter ensured hot food reached the upper floor quickly. (The elevator helped maintain food temperature during transport.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dumbwaiter (n): an alternate spelling without the hyphen, meaning the same device.

  • The old house still has a functional dumbwaiter in the pantry. (The small elevator is still operational.)

• Service lift (n): a synonym for a dumb-waiter, often used in modern contexts.

  • The hotel uses a service lift for luggage, similar to a dumb-waiter. (A small elevator for goods.)

Synonyms

• Food lift: a small elevator specifically for food.
• Tray stand: a revolving stand on a table (for the second meaning).

Related Idioms

• "to send something up the dumb-waiter": to use the device to move items discreetly or efficiently.

  • The butler sent the tea up the dumb-waiter without disturbing the guests. (He transported the tea silently via the elevator.)

• "like a dumb-waiter": used metaphorically to describe something that moves items or information between levels.

  • The email system acts like a dumb-waiter for digital messages. (It transports data between users efficiently.)