dine
- 01 B1 Intermediate
to eat a meal, especially dinner, in a formal or special way.
to eat the principal meal of the day. Intransitive; often implies a degree of formality or a social occasion.
Simple“We decided to dine at a small Italian restaurant for our anniversary.”
In context“The ambassadors will dine at the embassy tonight to discuss the new trade agreement in a more relaxed setting.”
UsageUsually followed by the preposition 'at' for a location or 'on' for the food being eaten.
- 02 C1 Advanced
to provide a formal dinner for someone else.
to entertain someone at dinner or to provide a meal for them. Transitive; takes a direct object representing the person being fed.
Simple“The host dines his guests with the finest wines and local dishes.”
In context“It was his custom to dine his business associates at his private club to ensure their undivided attention during negotiations.”
UsageThis transitive use is much less common than the intransitive sense and is restricted to high-register or literary contexts.