Luncheon Meaning
/ˈlʌn(t)ʃən/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA formal meal served in the middle of the day.
nounA large, cheap, processed sausage served in thin slices.
Sentence Examples
It was a good luncheon, as hotels go.
Is it too early to order from the luncheon menu?
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The charity group held a formal ____ to raise funds for the hospital's new wing.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
A formal ____ was held in honor of the visiting delegates at the city hall earlier this afternoon.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Now that she had rested and had fed from the luncheon tray Mrs. Broome had just removed, she had reverted to her normal gaiety. She looked cool in a grey tailored cotton dress with a terracotta scarf and shoes and her hair a black silk helmet."
— 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 2, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
"Superintendent Chalmers: Well, Seymour, I made it — despite your directions.
Principal Skinner: Ahhh, Superintendent Chalmers! Welcome! I hope you're prepared for an unforgettable luncheon."
— 1996, Writing staff, “22 Short Films About Springfield”, in The Simpsons, season 7, episode 21, spoken by Principal Skinner (Harry Shearer):
"Filled Roll (x2) 1x luncheon, tomato, lettuce, and mayonnaise / 1x cheese and onion"
— 2014 June 3, John Pratt, Anna Eriksson, “Understanding differences in punishment”, in Contrasts in Punishment: An Explanation of Anglophone Excess and Nordic Exceptionalism, Taylor & Francis, →ISBN, page 31:
"At twilight in the summer there is never anybody to fear—man, woman, or cat—in the chambers and at that hour the mice come out. They do not eat parchment or foolscap or red tape, but they eat the luncheon crumbs."
— 1892, Walter Besant, chapter II, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC:
"In the meantime, while ladies are luncheoning on chicken pie, or coursing in whirling britskas, performing all the singular ceremonies of a London morning in the heart of the season[…]"
— 1844, Benjamin Disraeli, Coningsby:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The charity group held a formal ____ to raise funds for the hospital's new wing.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
A formal ____ was held in honor of the visiting delegates at the city hall earlier this afternoon.