English Explanatory Dictionary

luncheon

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A formal meal served in the middle of the day.
  2. A large, cheap, processed sausage served in thin slices.
  3. Any midday meal; lunch.
  4. A lump of food.
  5. A portion of food taken at any time except at a regular meal; an informal or light repast.
verb
  1. To eat luncheon.
  2. To serve luncheon to.

Pronunciation

/ˈlʌn(t)ʃən/ en-us-luncheon.ogg

Word forms

luncheon luncheons lunching lunchen slunchin lunshin lunchion lunchin luncheoning luncheoned

Etymology

From earlier lunching, of uncertain origin. Possibly derived from an earlier *lumpchin, *lumpchen, a diminutive of lump (“chunk, parcel of food, lunch”), thus related to lunch, q.v. It is unclear which came first: whether lunch is a shortening of luncheon, or whether luncheon is an augmentation of lunch. Possibly influenced by nuncheon (“light snack taken in the afternoon”). The "sausage" sense is probably a shortening of luncheon sausage or luncheon meat.

Synonyms

Belgium devon fritz polony

Related words

nuncheon lunch tiffin dejeuner

Derived words

bruncheon luncheon bar luncheon cart luncheoner luncheonette luncheonless luncheon meat luncheon plate luncheon sausage luncheon truncheon luncheon voucher luncheonware preluncheon
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