banquet
/ˈbæŋkwɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbæŋkwɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbaŋ-kwət ˈban- also -ˌkwet/ (ame, mw)
banquet — noun
1. an elaborate sit-down dinner served to many guests on a special occasion, usuall
an elaborate sit-down dinner served to many guests on a special occasion, usually at long tables and often ending with toasts or speeches praising someone.
The Mayor hosted a banquet for two hundred guests in the city hall.
host a banquet for [number] guests
After the wedding ceremony, Mei and Daniel led their families into the banquet.
wedding banquet — common collocation in Taiwan English usage
At the state banquet, the President of France gave a long speech in honour of the visiting king.
The charity held a banquet at the Grand Hotel, with ten courses and speeches from the founders.
The university held an annual banquet to celebrate students who had won top prizes.
文法句型
a banquet for [number] guests
a banquet in honour of [person]
用法筆記
Subject is usually an institution, host, or organisation rather than a single private person. Distinguish from sense 2 (figurative): a banquet here is a real meal with seated guests, not a metaphor for abundance.
常見錯誤
2. used in a figurative way: a generous spread of something that gives strong pleas
used in a figurative way: a generous spread of something that gives strong pleasure or value to a particular kind of person, as if it were a meal full of treats laid out for them.
The new museum offers a banquet of modern art for anyone who loves bold colour.
a banquet of [noun] for [type of person]
For young readers, this novel is a banquet of strange creatures and hidden maps.
figurative: rich supply aimed at a specific audience
The festival in Kyoto laid out a banquet of music, dance, and street food for every visitor.
Dr. Camille's lecture series was a banquet of fresh ideas for graduate students.
- feast
more common in this figurative use, e.g. 'a feast for the eyes'
- treasure trove
stresses hidden value found; banquet stresses lavish offering presented
- abundance
neutral and abstract; 'banquet' adds the image of a generous spread
- famine
figurative opposite — a shortage rather than rich supply
文法句型
a banquet of [noun]
a banquet for [type of person]
用法筆記
Figurative only — there is no real food. Subject is typically an event, work, or place; the prepositional phrase 'of [noun]' names what is offered. Distinguish from sense 1 (a real meal).
常見錯誤
banquet — verb
1. to take part in a grand sit-down meal as one of the seated guests, especially ea
to take part in a grand sit-down meal as one of the seated guests, especially eating rich food over several courses.
The visiting officials banqueted with the prime minister at the old palace in Vienna.
banquet with [person] — typical pattern for this intransitive sense
On New Year's Eve, the whole village banqueted on roast pork and sweet rice cakes.
banquet on [food]
After the trade deal was signed, the two delegations banqueted late into the night.
After the summit, the foreign ministers banqueted together at a private hotel in Geneva.
- fast
to go without food, opposite of eating richly
文法句型
banquet on [food]
banquet with [person]
用法筆記
Used mainly in formal, historical, or literary writing. Frequently followed by 'on + [food]' or 'with + [person]'. In modern everyday speech, English speakers usually say 'have dinner' or 'eat a feast' instead.
常見錯誤
2. to honour guests by inviting them to a grand formal meal that you yourself provi
to honour guests by inviting them to a grand formal meal that you yourself provide and pay for.
The emperor banqueted the foreign envoys for three nights in the summer palace.
banquet [someone] — transitive pattern with named guests
The winning team was banqueted by the city council in the grand hotel ballroom.
passive: be banqueted by [host]
Lord Halford banqueted his friends with roast venison and the finest red wine.
The university banqueted the visiting scholars from Tokyo on the night before the conference.
- fete
to honour someone with a public celebration; broader than just a meal
- wine and dine
more informal modern phrase covering the same idea of hosting someone with rich food and drink
- entertain
general word for hosting guests; 'banquet' adds the grand-meal element
文法句型
banquet [someone]
be banqueted by [host]
用法筆記
Frequently passive ('be banqueted by …'). Subject is usually a host, ruler, or institution; the object is the honoured guest, not the food. Distinguish from sense 1 (intransitive — the eaters, not the host).