dining
UK: ˈdaɪnɪŋ | US: ˈdaɪnɪŋ
n. the act of eating a meal, especially dinner
v. (present participle of dine) to eat dinner
The word dining derives from the verb dine, which entered Middle English from Old French diner (meaning "to dine" or "to have a meal"). The Old French term traces back to Latin disjejunare ("to break one's fast"), combining dis- (apart) + jejunare (to fast). Over time, diner evolved to specifically refer to the main meal of the day (dinner), and the suffix -ing was added to form the noun or present participle. The modern sense retains the core idea of eating a meal, often in a social or formal setting.
We reserved a table for dining at the new Italian restaurant.
The hotel offers fine dining with a view of the ocean.
She prefers dining alone rather than in large groups.
The dining room was elegantly decorated for the party.
He spent the evening dining with colleagues after the conference.