catering
UK: ˈkeɪtərɪŋ | US: ˈkeɪtərɪŋ
n. the business of providing food and drink for events or gatherings
n. the act of preparing and serving food professionally
v. (gerund) providing food service or meeting specific needs
The word "catering" derives from the verb "cater," which originated in the late 16th century from the Old French "acater" (to buy provisions), itself rooted in the Latin "accaptare" (to grasp, procure). The "-ing" suffix transforms it into a noun denoting the activity or industry of providing food services. The evolution reflects a shift from general provisioning (e.g., for households) to specialized event-based food service.
The wedding catering included a five-course meal.
She runs a successful catering business for corporate events.
The hotel offers catering services for large conferences.
His job in catering requires early mornings and late nights.
We hired a local company to handle the catering for the fundraiser.