food court
FOOD kort
/ˈfuːd kɔːrt/
An area in a shopping mall where several fast-food restaurants are located around a common seating area.
Implies a casual, self-service environment with a variety of cuisines.
The story behind the word. The word 'court' comes from the Latin 'cohors', meaning an enclosed yard. In a mall, it is the 'yard' where you eat.
Word relationships
- dining hall: Dining hall sounds more formal or institutional (like a university).
Commonly confused with
- restaurant: A restaurant has its own private seating; a food court shares seating with others.
Collocations
- mall food court
- busy food court
- food court seating
Example sentences
- "Let's meet at the food court at noon so everyone can pick what they want to eat." Planning a meeting spot in a mall.
Memory hook
A 'Court' of food where you are the judge of what to eat. The mall's communal kitchen.
When not to use
Do not use for a single standalone restaurant or a formal dining room.
Fun facts
- The first modern shopping mall food court opened in 1974 at Paramus Park in New Jersey.
Explore more words
quick-service, seating, drive-thru, Boardwalk, concourse, platter
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