lunch

UK: lʌntʃ | US: lʌntʃ

Definition

  1. n. a meal eaten in the middle of the day, typically lighter than dinner

  2. v. to eat lunch

Structure
lun <short for "luncheon">
Etymology

The word "lunch" originated as a shortened form of "luncheon," which itself derived from the Old English "nuncheon" (a light midday meal). "Luncheon" was influenced by the Spanish "lonja" (a slice of ham) and the Old Norse "lun" (a light meal). Over time, "lunch" became the dominant term, shedding its longer form. The "-ch" ending is a phonetic remnant without independent meaning, reflecting the word's natural evolution in English.

Examples

  1. She packed a healthy lunch for work.

  2. Let’s lunch at the new café downtown.

  3. The meeting includes a free lunch for attendees.

  4. He skipped lunch to finish his project.

  5. We usually have lunch around noon.