Definition

A small elevator that moves food or other items between different floors of a building.

Example

The restaurant uses a dumbwaiter to send meals from the kitchen to the dining area on the upper floor.

Conversation

Have you ever seen a dumbwaiter in a restaurant?

Yeah, they're pretty cool! They make serving food so much easier.

I think they should have them in every house.

Absolutely! It would save so much time going up and down the stairs.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Dumbwaiter → The word is formed from "dumb" (from Old English *dumb*, meaning unable to speak) and "waiter" (from Old French *waiter*, meaning to serve or to wait). A dumbwaiter is a device that serves food or goods, typically between floors, without the need for a person to carry them, hence the term 'dumb' indicating it operates without speech or human intervention.

Memory Tip

Think of a device that serves ('waiter') without speaking ('dumb') — that's why a dumbwaiter is a machine that delivers items.

Visually Confused Words