dinner
n. C / Un. the main meal of the day, eaten either in the middle of the day or in the evening.
n. the primary meal of the day, typically consumed in the evening, though historically and regionally referring to a midday meal.
We usually have dinner together at seven o'clock.
After a long day at the office, she prepared a simple pasta dinner for her family.
The annual gala concluded with a formal three-course dinner where the keynote speaker addressed the guests on the importance of community service.
From Middle English dyner, from Old French disner (“lunch”, but originally “breakfast”), (modern French dîner), from Vulgar Latin disiūnō, disiūnāre from Latin dis- + iēiūnō (“to break the fast”).
Often used without an article when referring to the meal as an activity ('after dinner'), but takes an article when referring to a specific event ('a formal dinner').
I am going to the dinner nowI am going to dinner nowWhen referring to the daily meal as a routine activity, do not use the definite article 'the'.