ENGLISH
REFERENCE

waiter

n. countable
A1 Beginner Oxford US //ˈweɪtɝ// UK //wˈeɪtɐ// wait·er Archaic General-service

n. a person who works in a restaurant and brings food and drinks to your table. You usually ask this person for the menu or the bill.

n. a person employed to serve customers at their tables in a restaurant or café.


SIMPLE

The waiter brings us the menu.

CONTEXTUAL

We asked the waiter for some extra napkins and another bottle of water for the table.

COMPLEX

A professional waiter must balance efficiency with a polite manner, ensuring that every guest feels attended to without feeling rushed through their meal.

Synonyms
Usage

The term is traditionally masculine; 'waitress' is used for women, though 'server' is a common gender-neutral alternative.

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