You use at dinner to talk about something that happens while you are eating dinner:
She told us at dinner that she was going away.
COLLOCATIONS
verbs
have/eat dinner 吃晚饭
Why don't you come and have dinner with us?
为什么不来和我们一起吃晚饭呢?
make/cook dinner 做晚饭
I offered to cook dinner.
我主动要求做晚饭。
have something for dinner 晚饭吃某物
I thought we might have pasta for dinner tonight.
我想我们今天晚饭可以吃意大利面。
have somebody for/to dinner 请某人吃晚餐
We're having a few friends round to dinner.
我们请了几位朋友过来吃晚餐。
ask/invite somebody to dinner 邀请某人来吃饭
Let's ask Kate and Mike to dinner.
我们请凯特和迈克来吃晚饭吧。
come for/to dinner 来吃晚饭
nMark is coming over for dinner.
go out for/to dinner (=go and eat in a restaurant) 出去吃晚饭
nWould you like to go out for dinner on Saturday?
serve dinner (=start giving people food) 供应晚饭
nDinner is served between 7 and 11 pm in the hotel restaurant.
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + dinner
a three-course/four-course etc dinner 三道菜/四道菜等的晚餐
The cost of the hotel includes a three-course dinner.
酒店费用包括一顿三道菜的晚餐。
Sunday/Christmas/Thanksgiving dinner (=a special meal eaten on Sunday etc) 周日/圣诞/感恩节大餐
We usually have a walk after Christmas dinner.
圣诞大餐后我们一般出去走走。
a romantic dinner (=for two people in a romantic relationship) 浪漫晚餐
Clive and Denise were enjoying a romantic dinner for two in a quiet French restaurant.
克莱夫和丹尼丝正在一家安静的法国餐厅享用浪漫的两人晚餐。
a candle-lit dinner (=with only candles for lighting) 烛光晚餐
Chris treated his girlfriend to a candle-lit dinner.
克里斯请女朋友吃了顿烛光晚餐。
na leisurely dinner (=not hurried)
I enjoy having a leisurely dinner with some friends at the weekend.
a black-tie dinner (=where people wear special formal clothes) 〔要求穿晚礼服的〕正式晚宴
He was invited to a black-tie dinner at one of the Oxford colleges.
他获邀参加牛津一所学院的正式晚宴。
na slap-up dinnerBritish EnglishBrE informal (=with a lot of good food)
Mum always makes a slap-up dinner for me when I go home.
school dinnersBritish EnglishBrE (=meals provided at school in the middle of the day) 学校午餐
School dinners are served in the canteen.
学校午餐在食堂供应。
TV dinners (=meals that you eat while watching TV) 电视便餐
TV dinners in aluminium containers can be found in the freezer departments of many supermarkets.
铝盒装的电视便餐在许多超市的冷冻食品区有售。
dinner + NOUN
a dinner party (=when someone's friends are invited for a special evening meal) 家宴
We are having a dinner party on Saturday.
我们周六要请客吃饭。
a dinner guest 晚宴嘉宾
The dinner guests began arriving at about seven o'clock.
7点左右,晚宴嘉宾陆续到来。
Examples from the Corpus
dinner• Allen and Wanda celebrated their anniversary at a dinnerhosted by their children.• Ann and I attended a dinner at the City Chamber of Commerce.• She had a ticket for a dinner and fashion show at the CastleHotel.• At dinner, he announced that he was leaving home.• We had finisheddinner and were waiting for the bill.• What shall we have for dinner?• We went out for dinner at the Ritz.• Why don't you come and have dinner with us?• He comes home for his dinner, then goes back to the factory.• Why not expect her to go to his memorialdinner?• Sarah cooked us a really nicedinner.• Shall we discuss this over dinner?• Since the pregame dinner at three, Sandie has told everyone who will listen just how scared she is.• She used to hate school dinners.• We had some friends round for Sunday dinner.• I believe we shall take dinner in Bapaume.• In one of my less lucidmoments, I had volunteered to host Thanksgivingdinner.• Assuming that Fred's wife has accepted the dinnerinvitation, have they made a contract? 2.• She had not enjoyed the dinner.• After all, she was to have treated Letia to dinner.
Origindinner
(1200-1300)Old Frenchdiner, from diner“to eat”; → DINE
1main meal of the day主餐ADJECTIVE | DINNER + NOUNADJECTIVE➤delicious, excellent, good, gourmet, slap-up, informal) , sumptuous美味的正餐;精美的大餐;豪華的大餐◇We were treated to an excellent dinner with every kind of seafood imaginable.招待我們的是一頓海鮮大餐,所有你能想像得到的海鮮都有。➤four-course, three-course, etc.四道菜、三道菜等的正餐▸➤big盛大的晚餐▸➤light簡單的晚餐▸➤leisurely悠閒的晚餐▸➤quick快速晚餐▸➤early, late較早的/較晚的晚餐▸➤candlelight, candlelit, romantic燭光晚餐;浪漫的晚餐▸➤intimate, private, quiet溫馨的/私人/恬靜的晚餐▸➤family家庭晚餐▸➤birthday, Christmas, holiday, Sunday, Thanksgiving (in the US) 生日/聖誕/假日/星期天/感恩節大餐▸➤potluck (= to which each guest brings some food, which is then shared) (NAmE) 百樂餐(每人帶一些食物,大家分享)▸➤school (BrE) 校餐▸➤frozen, TV速凍食品便餐;盒裝電視便餐▸➤chicken, seafood, steak, turkey, etc.雞肉、海鮮、牛排、火雞肉等正餐DINNER + NOUN➤table餐桌◇There was never much conversation at the dinner table in my family.我家吃飯的時候從來不怎麼說話。➤things餐具◇We didn't wash up the dinner things until the morning after.我們第二天早上才洗餐具。➤plates, service餐盤;成套西餐具◇a bone-china dinner service成套骨瓷西餐具➤menu菜單◇The extensive dinner menu includes Russian delicacies.豐盛的菜單包含俄羅斯佳肴。◇The school dinner menu always includes a balance of food types. (BrE) 學校的菜單總是保持食物種類的均衡。➤bell就餐鈴▸➤money (BrE) 餐費◇I always forgot to take my dinner money to school.我總是忘記帶餐費上學。➤lady (BrE) (lunch lady in NAmE)餐廳女工➤time晚餐時間▸➤date晚餐約會▸➤reservation晚餐預約▸➤companion晚餐同伴➡ note at meal(for verbs)dinner
noun²
2formal evening occasion, with dinner晚宴ADJECTIVE | VERB + DINNER | DINNER + NOUNADJECTIVE➤elegant, fancy, lavish高雅的/昂貴的/奢華的晚宴▸➤black-tie, formal, official正式晚宴▸➤informal非正式晚宴▸➤annual年度晚宴◇The club's annual dinner is this week.該俱樂部的年度晚宴將於本週舉行。➤anniversary, celebratory, rehearsal (= for the families of a couple the day before their wedding) (NAmE) , wedding (NAmE) 週年紀念晚宴;慶祝晚宴;婚禮前預演晚宴;婚宴▸➤farewell送別宴會▸➤awards頒獎晚宴▸➤charity, fund-raising慈善宴會;籌款晚宴▸➤gala歡慶宴◇A gala dinner was held to celebrate the world premiere of the movie.為慶祝該電影在全球首映舉行了歡慶宴。➤state國宴◇A state dinner was held in honour / honor of the visiting Japanese premier.為歡迎日本首相來訪而舉行了國宴。VERB + DINNER➤give, hold, host, throw舉辦宴會;設宴◇My old school is giving a fund-raising dinner我的母校將舉辦籌款晚宴。➤attend出席宴會◇We attended the formal reunion dinner.我們參加了一個正式的重聚宴會。➤be invited to獲邀請赴宴▸➤change for, dress for換裝赴宴;穿禮服赴宴◇Are we expected to dress for dinner?我們應該穿禮服赴宴嗎 ?➤speak at在宴會上發言◇The former Olympic champion was invited to speak at a charity dinner.那位前奧運冠軍應邀在慈善晚宴上講話。DINNER + NOUN➤party宴會◇They invited three couples to a dinner party at their house.他們邀請了三對夫婦參加他們的家宴。➤engagement宴會約定▸➤dance晚宴舞會◇the society's annual dinner dance這個社團的年度晚宴舞會➤guests宴會賓客▸➤jacket, suit (both BrE) 男式無尾禮服;男式成套無尾晚禮服➤theater (= a restaurant where you see a play after your meal) (NAmE) 餐館劇院
➡ See also the entry for meal另见meal条dinner ♦︎ lunch ♦︎ breakfast ♦︎ tea ♦︎ supper ♦︎ luncheonThese are all words for meals.这些词均表示餐饭。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆for / over dinner / lunch / breakfast / tea / supper / luncheon◆a / an early / late dinner / lunch / breakfast / supper◆a hot / cold dinner / lunch / supper◆a business dinner / lunch / breakfast / luncheon◆a / an annual / awards / gala dinner / luncheon◆to have / eat / serve dinner / lunch / breakfast / tea / supper / luncheon◆to have / eat your dinner / lunch / breakfast / tea / supper◆to invite sb for / to dinner / lunch / breakfast / tea / supper / luncheon◆to have sth for dinner / lunch / breakfast / tea / supper / luncheon◆to go out for dinner / lunch / breakfast◆to come / go to / for dinner / lunch / breakfast / tea / supper◆to sit down to dinner / lunch / breakfast / tea / supper◆to get dinner / lunch / breakfast / tea / supper◆a dinner / lunch / tea / supper / luncheon party◆dinner / lunch / breakfast / tea / supper things■dinner [uncountable, countable] the main meal of the day, eaten either in the middle of the day or in the evening(中午或晚上的)正餐,主餐◆It's time for dinner.该吃正餐了。◆Have you had dinner yet?你吃了主餐没有?◆What time do you serve dinner?你们什么时候供应主餐?◆Let's invite them to dinner.咱们请他们吃饭吧。◆What shall we have for dinner tonight?我们今晚晚餐吃什么好呢?◆It's your turn to get dinner.该你做饭了。◆I never eat a big dinner.我向来饭量不大。ⓘ Dinner also refers to an event at which dinner is eaten. * dinner还可表示宴会◆The club's annual dinner will be held on the 4th of June.该俱乐部一年一度的宴会将于6月4日举行。■lunch [uncountable, countable] a meal eaten in the middle of the day午餐;午饭◆She's gone to lunch.她吃午饭去了。◆I'm ready for some lunch.我想吃点午饭了。◆Let's do lunch(= have lunch together).咱们一块儿吃午饭吧。◆We took a packed lunch(= a meal, often of sandwiches, which you can carry with you).我们带了自备的午餐。◆We serve hot and cold lunches.我们供应冷热午餐。◆I have a one-hour lunch break.我有一小时午餐时间。■breakfast [uncountable, countable] the first meal of the day早餐;早饭◆They were having breakfast when I arrived.我到达时他们正在吃早饭。◆I'm going to have a nice leisurely breakfast tomorrow.我打算明天吃一顿美味的悠闲早餐。◆ (especially BrE) I always have a cooked breakfast.我早餐一向吃热食。ⓘ An English breakfast is a large breakfast, usually including cooked bacon and eggs. A continental breakfast is a light breakfast, usually consisting of coffee and bread rolls with butter and jam. These terms are used especially in hotels. * English breakfast(英式早餐)量大,通常包括熏猪肉和鸡蛋;continental breakfast(欧陆式早餐)量小,通常包括咖啡和涂了黄油和果酱的圆面包。这些词语尤为饭店所用◆The price per person includes a full English breakfast.每个人的费用包含一顿全套英式早餐。■tea [uncountable, countable] (BrE) a light meal eaten in the afternoon or early evening, usually with sandwiches and/or biscuits and cakes and with tea to drink; a cooked meal eaten in the evening, especially when it is eaten early in the evening茶点(下午或傍晚时进行,通常边喝茶边吃三明治、饼干和蛋糕);(傍晚时的)晚点,便餐◆Would you like to come to tea on Sunday?星期天你过来吃茶点好吗?◆You can have your tea as soon as you come home from school.你放学回家后马上就可以吃晚点。ⓘ A cooked tea that is eaten instead of a later, larger meal, is sometimes called high tea.傍晚时用以代替正餐的那一顿热食便餐有时称作high tea。■supper [uncountable, countable] the last meal of the day, either a main meal, usually smaller and less formal than dinner, or a snack(= a small meal)eaten before you go to bed晚餐;晚饭;夜宵◆I'll do my homework after supper.晚饭后我要做家庭作业。◆Let's talk about it over supper.咱们吃晚饭时谈这件事吧。◆We'll have an early supper tonight.今天我们要早点吃晚饭。NOTE辨析 Dinner, lunch, tea or supper?People use these words in different ways depending on which English-speaking country they come from. In Britain it may also depend on which part of the country or which social class a person comes from. A meal eaten in the middle of the day is usually called lunch. If it is the main meal of the day it may also be called dinner in British English, especially in the north of the country. A main meal eaten in the evening is usually called dinner, especially if it is a formal meal. Supper is also an evening meal, but more informal than dinner and usually eaten at home. It can also be a late meal or something to eat and drink before going to bed. In British English tea is a light meal in the afternoon with sandwiches, cake and a cup of tea. It can also be a main meal eaten early in the evening, especially by children. * dinner、lunch、tea和supper在不同的英语国家用法不尽相同,在英国的不同地区和社会阶层用法也不尽相同。中午吃的那一餐通常叫lunch;如果这一餐是一天中的正餐,英式英语中也可称作dinner,尤其是在英国北部地区。傍晚吃的正餐通常叫dinner,尤指正式宴会。supper也是晚餐,但不如dinner正式,而且通常在家里吃,有时也可指夜宵。在英式英语中,tea指下午茶,边喝茶边吃三明治和蛋糕;也可指傍晚时的正餐,尤其是孩子们的正餐。■luncheon ˈlʌntʃən [countable, uncountable] (formal) a formal lunch or a formal word for lunch(正式用语)午餐,午宴◆They organized a charity luncheon.他们筹办了一场慈善午宴。◆Luncheon will be served at one, Madam.夫人,午餐将在1点钟开始。