Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
buffet car

buffet car

3.5
A part of a train where people can buy food and drinks
  • noun
  • /ˈbʌfeɪ kɑr/
  • UK
translation icon : vagón comedor
  • Passengers eagerly lined up in the buffet car to enjoy hot meals and refreshing drinks.

Examples

  • I visited the buffet car to grab a snack during the long train ride.

  • He's the only transport minister to get on the tube and ask for the buffet car.

    The Riddle (2007)

  • Well, I'm off to the buffet car to get away from ye dull yokes.

    Six Shooter (2004)

  • While traveling, we often relax in the buffet car to enjoy the view and some refreshments.

Synonyms

dining car
vsbuffet car
6 3.0

A part of a train where passengers eat meals during a journey

serves food and beverages to passengers rather than only providing eating space
diner
vsbuffet car
  • Archaic
2 4.4

A passenger train car where people eat meals while the train moves

also includes serving beverages as well as meals during travel
dining compartment
vsbuffet car
3.9

A part of a train where people eat meals while traveling

is an entire passenger vehicle serving food and beverages throughout the journey

How Served

dining car
6 3.0
buffet car
  • UK
3.5
trolley
  • UK
8 1.0

Surface Forms

buffet car singular
buffet cars plural

Morphology

buffet + car

The meaning 'a railway passenger car where food and beverages are served' is directly and compositionally derived from 'buffet' (a place for food service) + 'car' (a rail vehicle). This straightforward noun–noun construction (vehicle + function) is cross-linguistically regular, so a B1 learner who knows both words should be able to infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The name buffet car comes from trains that had a buffet, a counter or small kitchen, inside a car for passengers. So buffet car means 'a train car where food and drinks are sold'.