buffet
1 of 4noun (1)
buf·fet ˈbə-fət 
1
: a blow especially with the hand
2
: something that strikes with telling force
buffet
2 of 4verb
buf·fet ˈbə-fət
buffeted; buffeting; buffets
transitive verb
1
: to strike sharply especially with the hand : cuff
2
: to strike repeatedly : batter
the waves buffeted the shore
3
: to drive, force, move, or attack by or as if by repeated blows
schools being buffeted by budget cuts
intransitive verb
: to make one's way especially under difficult conditions
buffet
3 of 4noun (2)
buf·fet (ˌ)bə-ˈfā
bü-ˈfā,
British especially
ˈbü-ˌfā plural buffets
1
furniture : sideboard sense 1
2
a
: a counter for refreshments
went back to the buffet for a second helping
b
chiefly British : a restaurant operated as a public convenience (as in a railway station)
c
: a meal set out on a buffet or table for ready access and informal service
a restaurant that offers a breakfast buffet
3
: an assortment of options or offerings : variety
Once you're up there among the clouds, you'll have a buffet of skiing options.
Brad Wetzler
Brad Wetzlerbuffet
4 of 4adjective
buf·fet (ˌ)bə-ˈfā
bü-ˈfā,
British especially
ˈbü-ˌfā : served informally especially as a buffet (see buffet entry 3 sense 2c)
a buffet meal
buffet luncheons
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- bang
- bash
- bat
- beat
- belt
- biff
- blow
- bop
- box
- bust
- chop
- clap
- clip
- clout
- crack
- cuff
- dab
- douse [British]
- fillip
- hack
- haymaker
- hit
- hook
- knock
- larrup [dialect]
- lash
- lick
- pelt
- pick
- plump
- poke
- pound
- punch
- rap
- slam
- slap
- slug
- smack
- smash
- sock
- spank
- stinger
- stripe
- stroke
- swat
- swipe
- switch
- thud
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- welt
- whack
- wham
- whop
- whap
Verb
- bash
- baste
- bat
- batter
- beat
- belabor
- belt
- birch
- bludgeon
- bung up
- club
- curry
- do
- drub
- fib [British]
- flog
- hammer
- hide
- lace
- lambaste
- lambast
- lash
- lather
- lick
- maul
- mess (up)
- paddle
- pelt
- pommel
- pound
- pummel
- punch out
- rough (up)
- slate
- slog
- switch
- tan
- thrash
- thresh
- thump
- tromp
- wallop
- whale
- whip
- whop
- whap
- whup
- work over
Noun (2)
- cabinet
- closet
- console
- cupboard
- hutch
- locker
- press
- sideboard
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb The strong winds buffeted the ship. fierce winds buffeted the small sailboat
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English, from Anglo-French, diminutive of buffe blow
Verb
Middle English buffeten, verbal derivative of buffet buffet entry 1
Noun (2)
borrowed from French, going back to Old French, "stool, table, counter," of uncertain origin
Adjective
adjective derivative of buffet entry 3
First Known Use
Noun (1)
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun (2)
1707, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
1898, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing buffet
Kids Definition
buffet 1 of 2
verb
buf·fet ˈbə-fət
buffeted; buffeting
: to pound repeatedly
Waves buffeted our boat.
buffet
2 of 2noun
buf·fet ˌbə-ˈfā
bü-
1
: a cabinet or set of shelves for the display of dishes and silver : sideboard
2
: a meal set out on a buffet or table from which people may serve themselves
buffet 1 of 3
noun (1)
as in swipe
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument delivered a powerful buffet to the side of the prisoner's head Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- swipe
- blow
- punch
- hit
- knock
- stroke
- thump
- pound
- slap
- thud
- whack
- slam
- bang
- lick
- poke
- smack
- beat
- spank
- box
- clip
- switch
- hook
- stripe
- chop
- bash
- plump
- slug
- pick
- belt
- hack
- clap
- rap
- lash
- kick
- bat
- counter
- smash
- cuff
- crack
- pelt
- bop
- haymaker
- sock
- biff
- knee
- swing
- stinger
- fillip
- licking
- swat
- wallop
- bust
- wham
- dab
- welt
- pounding
- clout
- hand
- left
- whop
- douse
- thwack
- beating
- larrup
- right
- body blow
- counterblow
- whap
- counterstroke
- rabbit punch
- roundhouse
- hammering
- knockout
- sucker punch
- counterpunch
- knockdown
- whip
- thrashing
- whipping
- uppercut
- battering
- sidewinder
- shiver
- pummeling
- cruncher
- flogging
- bastinade
- walloping
- bludgeoning
- one-two
- cudgelling
- drubbing
- clobbering
- cudgeling
- pasting
- kayo
- right-hander
- lambasting
- bastinado
- pummelling
- KO
buffet
2 of 3noun (2)
as in cabinet
a storage case typically having doors and shelves a buffet completed the kitchen set Synonyms & Similar Words
- cabinet
- cupboard
- locker
- closet
- sideboard
- dresser
- console
- hutch
- breakfront
- chest
- press
- étagère
- credenza
- bookcase
- secretary
- china closet
- vitrine
- armoire
- wardrobe
- showcase
- tabouret
- etagere
- taboret
- pie safe
- shelving
- cuddy
- cabinetry
- clothespress
- garderobe
- credence
buffet
3 of 3verb
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly fierce winds buffeted the small sailboat Synonyms & Similar Words
- lick
- pound
- attack
- hide
- lash
- club
- assault
- batter
- whip
- curry
- punch
- box
- do
- pelt
- hit
- beat
- knock
- slam
- bat
- bash
- punch out
- whale
- slate
- birch
- smash
- work over
- raid
- thump
- paddle
- slap
- maul
- storm
- chop
- switch
- tan
- lace
- spank
- thrash
- swipe
- bung up
- belt
- hammer
- bludgeon
- pummel
- wallop
- beat up on
- pommel
- fib
- wound
- smack
- slog
- lather
- whack
- rush
- flog
- blackjack
- leather
- drub
- tromp
- baste
- crack
- lambaste
- thresh
- lay on
- lambast
- rough (up)
- belabor
- scourge
- whap
- whop
- flagellate
- cuff
- cudgel
- strap
- paste
- cane
- descend (on or upon)
- whup
- cowhide
- sock
- mess (up)
- swat
- gore
- bust
- lam
- beset
- wham
- clout
- fustigate
- rawhide
- assail
- thwack
- lacerate
- clobber
- pounce (on or upon)
- jump (on)
- pistol-whip
- mangle
- whomp
- maim
- horsewhip
- mutilate