British English

BEd

BEd [BEd] (also B.Ed. especially in NAmE)  [ˌbiː ˈed]    [ˌbiː ˈed]  noun

the abbreviation for ‘Bachelor of Education’ (a first university degree in education): (BrE) Sarah Wells BEd

bed

bed [bed beds bedded bedding] noun, verb   [bed]    [bed] 

noun
FURNITURE
1. countable, uncountable a piece of furniture for sleeping on
• a single/double bed
• She lay on the bed (= on top of the covers).
• He lay in bed (= under the covers).
• I'm tired— I'm going to bed.
• It's time for bed (= time to go to sleep).
• I'll just put the kids to bed.
• He likes to have a mug of cocoa before bed (= before going to bed).
• to get into/out of bed
• to make the bed (= arrange the covers in a tidy way)
• Could you give me a bed for the night (= somewhere to sleep)?
• There's a shortage of hospital beds (= not enough room for patients to be admitted).
• He has been confined to bed with flu for the past couple of days.

see also  airbed, camp bed, sofa bed, twin bed, waterbed  

OF RIVER/LAKE/SEA

2. countable the bottom of a river, the sea, etc
• the ocean bed

• oyster beds (= an area in the sea where there are many oysters )  

FOR FLOWERS/VEGETABLES

3. countable an area of ground in a garden/yard or park for growing flowers, vegetables, etc
• flower beds

see also  seedbed  

BOTTOM LAYER

4. countable ~ of sth a layer of sth that other things lie or rest on
• grilled chicken, served on a bed of rice

• The blocks should be laid on a bed of concrete.  

GEOLOGY

5. countable a layer of clay, rock, etc. in the ground
see also  bedrock 
more at die in your bed at  die  _v., wet the/your bed at  wet  _v.  
Word Origin:
Old English bed, bedd (noun), beddian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bed and German Bett.  
Example Bank:
• Are you out of bed yet?
• Bed and breakfast accommodation is available.
• Come on, children, it's time for bed.
• Don't punish a child who wets the bed.
• Elizabeth was sitting on her bed writing a letter.
• He and his brother had to share a bed.
• He came home to find an empty bed.
• He lay in bed, reading his book.
• He slept on a makeshift bed of blankets and cushions.
• I like to be in bed before 11 o'clock.
• I slept in the bottom bunk of a set of bunk beds.
• It's your turn to put the children to bed.
• Please strip the beds and put the sheets in the washing machine.
• She crawled into bed exhausted.
• We stayed at a comfortable bed and breakfast.
• a messy room, with an unmade bed and clothes on the floor
• ornamental beds of roses
• Raised flower beds are ideal for people in wheelchairs.
Idioms: bed of roses ▪ get out of bed on the wrong side ▪ go to bed with somebody ▪ in bed ▪ take to your bed ▪ you've made your bed and you must lie in it

Derived: bed down 

verb (-dd-)
1. ~ sth (in sth) to fix sth firmly in sth
• The bricks were bedded in sand to improve drainage.

• Make sure that you bed the roots firmly in the soil.

2. ~ sb (old-fashioned) to have sex with sb
• He's been trying to bed her for weeks.
 
Word Origin:

Old English bed, bedd (noun), beddian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bed and German Bett.

get up

▪ I. ˌget ˈup derived
1. to stand up after sitting, lying, etc.
Syn:  rise

• The class got up when the teacher came in.

2. if the sea or wind gets up, it increases in strength and becomes violent

Main entry: get_derived

▪ II. ˌget ˈup | ˌget sb ˈup derived

to get out of bed; to make sb get out of bed

• He always gets up early.

• Could you get me up at 6.30 tomorrow?

Main entry: get_derived

get-up

ˈget-up [get-up get-ups]       noun (old-fashioned, informal)

a set of clothes, especially strange or unusual ones

exercise

ex·er·cise [exercise exercises exercised exercising] noun, verb   [ˈeksəsaɪz]    [ˈeksərsaɪz] 

noun
ACTIVITY/MOVEMENTS
1. uncountable physical or mental activity that you do to stay healthy or become stronger
• Swimming is good exercise.
• I don't get much exercise sitting in the office all day.
• The mind needs exercise as well as the body.
• vigorous/gentle exercise

• (BrE) to take exercise

2. countable a set of movements or activities that you do to stay healthy or develop a skill
• breathing/relaxation/stretching exercises
• exercises for the piano

• Repeat the exercise ten times on each leg.  

QUESTIONS

3. countable a set of questions in a book that tests your knowledge or practises a skill
• grammar exercises

• Do exercise one for homework.  

USE OF POWER/RIGHT/QUALITY

4. uncountable ~ of sth the use of power, a skill, a quality or a right to make sth happen
• the exercise of power by the government

• the exercise of discretion  

FOR PARTICULAR RESULT

5. countable an activity that is designed to achieve a particular result
• a communications exercise
• In the end it proved a pointless exercise.
• ~ in sth an exercise in public relations

• Staying calm was an exercise in self-control.  

FOR SOLDIERS

6. countable, usually plural a set of activities for training soldiers

• military exercises  

CEREMONIES

7. exercises plural (NAmE) ceremonies
• college graduation exercises  
Word Origin:
Middle English (in the sense ‘application of a right’): via Old French from Latin exercitium, from exercere ‘keep busy, practise’, from ex- ‘thoroughly’ + arcere ‘keep in or away’.  
Culture:
sport and fitness
The British are very fond of sport, but many people prefer to watch rather than take part. Many go to watch football, cricket, etc. at the ground, but many more sit at home and watch sport on television.
Most people today take relatively little general exercise. Over the last 30 or 40 years lifestyles have changed considerably and many people now travel even the shortest distances by car or bus. Lack of exercise combined with eating too many fatty and sugary foods has meant that many people are becoming too fat. Experts are particularly concerned that children spend a lot of their free time watching television or playing computer games instead of being physically active. In recent years, however, there has been a growing interest in fitness among young adults and many belong to a sports club or gym.
In Britain most towns have an amateur football and cricket team, and people also have opportunities to play sports such as tennis and golf. Older people may play bowls. Some people go regularly to a sports centre or leisure centre where there are facilities for playing badminton and squash, and also a swimming pool. Some sports centres arrange classes in aerobics, step and keep-fit. Some people work out (= train hard) regularly at a local gym and do weight training and circuit training. A few people do judo or other martial arts. Others go running or jogging in their local area. For enthusiastic runners there are opportunities to take part in long-distance runs, such as the London marathon. Other people keep themselves fit by walking or cycling. Many people go abroad on a skiing holiday each year and there are several dry slopes and snowdomes in Britain where they can practise.
Membership of a sports club or gym can be expensive and not everyone can afford the subscription. Local sports centres are generally cheaper. Evening classes are also cheap and offer a wide variety of fitness activities ranging from yoga to jazz dancing. Some companies now provide sports facilities for their employees or contribute to the cost of joining a gym.
Sports play an important part in American life. Professional baseball and football games attract large crowds, and many people watch games on television. Although many parents complain about their children being couch potatoes (= people who spend a lot of time watching television), there are sports sessions at school for all ages. College students are usually also required to take physical education classes to complete their studies.
Many popular keep-fit activities began in the US. Charles Atlas, Arnold Schwarzenegger and others inspired people to take up bodybuilding (= strengthening and shaping the muscles). Many women joined the ‘fitness craze’ as a result of video workouts produced by stars such as Jane Fonda and Cindy Crawford which they could watch and take part in at home. New fitness books are continually being published and these create fashions for new types of exercise, such as wave aerobics, which is done in a swimming pool, and cardio kick-boxing, a form of aerobics which involves punching and kicking a punchbag. Many richer people employ their own personal trainer, either at home or at a fitness centre, to direct their exercise programme. Local YMCAs offer programmes which include aerobics, gym, running, weights, treadmills and rowing machines, as well as steam rooms and swimming. But many people just walk or jog in the local park or play informal games of baseball or football. 
Thesaurus:
exercise noun
1. U, C
• Swimming is good exercise.
training • • workout • • aerobics • |BrE sport • • PE • |AmE sports • • P.E. •
do exercises/training/a workout/ aerobics/sport/PE
2. C
• Do one exercise for homework.
assignment • • task • • homework •
a/an easy/difficult exercise/assignment/task
do an exercise/a task/your homework
give/set (sb) some exercises/an assignment/a task/their homework 
Collocations:
Diet and exercise
Weight
put on/gain/lose weight/a few kilos/a few pounds
watch/control/struggle with your weight
be/become seriously overweight/underweight
be/become clinically/morbidly obese
achieve/facilitate/promote/stimulate weight loss
slim down to 70 kilos/(BrE) 11 stone/(especially NAmE) 160 pounds
combat/prevent/tackle/treat obesity
develop/have/suffer from/struggle with/recover from anorexia/bulimia/an eating disorder
be on/go on/follow a crash/strict diet
have/suffer from a negative/poor body image
have/develop a positive/healthy body image
Healthy eating
eat a balanced diet/healthily/sensibly
get/provide/receive adequate/proper nutrition
contain/get/provide essential nutrients/vitamins/minerals
be high/low in calories/fat/fibre/(especially US) fiber/protein/vitamin D/Omega-3 fatty acids
contain (no)/use/be full of/be free from additives/chemical preservatives/artificial sweeteners
avoid/cut down on/cut out alcohol/caffeine/fatty foods
stop/give up/ (especially NAmE) quit smoking
Exercise
(BrE) take regular exercise
do moderate/strenuous/vigorous exercise
play football/hockey/tennis
go cycling/jogging/running
go to/visit/ (especially NAmE) hit/work out at the gym
strengthen/tone/train your stomach muscles
contract/relax/stretch/use/work your lower-body muscles
build (up)/gain muscle
improve/increase your stamina/energy levels/physical fitness
burn/consume/expend calories
Staying healthy
be/get/keep/stay healthy/in shape/(especially BrE) fit
lower your cholesterol/blood pressure
boost/stimulate/strengthen your immune system
prevent/reduce the risk of heart disease/high blood pressure/diabetes/osteoporosis
reduce/relieve/manage/combat stress
enhance/promote relaxation/physical and mental well-being 
Example Bank:
• Ask your students to try this exercise before the next class.
• Before embarking on any exercise, you should conduct a cost-benefit analysis.
• Combine yoga with stretching and floor exercises.
• Do you take enough exercise?
• Half the regiment was away on exercise.
• He began his daily exercises.
• I did try some basic relaxation exercises.
• John never does any exercise.
• Lack of exercise is a risk factor in heart disease.
• Mental exercises can help older people to sustain their mental abilities.
• Practise/Practice the following exercise at least twice a day.
• Remember to do your breathing exercises every day.
• Role-playing situations allows a finer assessment to be made than in pen and paper exercises.
• She recommends the following exercises to increase circulation.
• Stop frequently to rest during exercise until you are fitter.
• The Government instituted a massive exercise in social control.
• The company has just carried out a major cost-cutting exercise.
• The doctor recommended regular exercise.
• The object of the exercise is to increase public awareness of environmental issues.
• The seminar was a valuable exercise in information exchange.
• The troops go on exercises twice a year.
• The whole consultation process was just a cynical political exercise.
• They recently completed a four-week exercise in Poland.
• This is a great exercise for the upper back.
• This is not a purely academic exercise: it should have a real impact on the way we work as a department.
• Try to do fifteen minutes of gentle exercise every day.
• US forces took part in joint exercises with the British Navy.
• We have conducted training exercises in seven separate states.
• We run team-building exercises with employees at each office.
• We were out on a field exercise.
• Weight-bearing exercise increases the health of bones.
• You can devise your own exercises to music.
• You may find it helpful to perform this exercise in front of the mirror.
• You will complete these exercises for homework.
• an exercise in translation
• an improper exercise of a discretionary power
• the effective exercise of power by the government
• the free exercise of informed choice
• to limit the exercise of political power
• As a public relations exercise the festival was clearly a success.
• Do one exercise for homework.
• I don't get much exercise sitting in the office all day.
• One of these powers is the exercise of discretion by police officers.
• Remember to take regular exercise.
• Sovereignty means more than just the exercise of power.
• breathing/relaxation/stretching exercises

• vigorous/gentle exercise

verb  
USE POWER/RIGHT/QUALITY
1. transitive ~ sth (formal) to use your power, rights or personal qualities in order to achieve sth
• When she appeared in court she exercised her right to remain silent.

• He was a man who exercised considerable influence over people.  

DO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

2. intransitive, transitive to do sports or other physical activities in order to stay healthy or become stronger; to make an animal do this
• an hour's class of exercising to music
• How often do you exercise?

• ~ sth Horses need to be exercised regularly.

3. transitive ~ sth to give a part of the body the movement and activity it needs to keep strong and healthy

• These movements will exercise your arms and shoulders.  

BE ANXIOUS

4. usually passive ~ sb/sth (about sth) (formal) if sb is exercised about sth, they are very anxious about it
• The public are less exercised about this matter than the media.
• This very problem has exercised the minds of some of our most eminent scientists.
Word Origin:
Middle English (in the sense ‘application of a right’): via Old French from Latin exercitium, from exercere ‘keep busy, practise’, from ex- ‘thoroughly’ + arcere ‘keep in or away’.  
Thesaurus:
exercise verb I, T
• How often do you exercise?
work out • • train • • warm up • |especially BrE keep fit •
exercise/train/warm up properly
exercise/train/work out regularly
exercise/train a horse/dog
Exercise or work out? Exercise can be any type of physical activity; working out usually involves using equipment in a gym.  
Example Bank:
• Each of us has a vote— if we choose to exercise it.
• It is necessary to exercise caution when making recommendations.
• Managers are free to exercise their discretion in these cases.
• The all-powerful steering committee continued to exercise control.
• The company's representative failed to exercise due care.
• They found themselves unable to exercise influence and maintain independence.
• They have the right to exercise self-determination.
• the conditions necessary to fully exercise these rights
• the purposes for which power can be rightfully exercised
• the right to freely exercise your religion
• Care must be exercised to ensure there is no cross-contamination between samples.

• I've just done an hour's class of exercising to music.

breakfast

break·fast [breakfast breakfasts breakfasted breakfasting] noun, verb   [ˈbrekfəst]    [ˈbrekfəst] 

noun countable, uncountable
the first meal of the day
• a big/hearty/light breakfast
• (especially BrE) a cooked breakfast
• Do you want bacon and eggs for breakfast?
• They were having breakfast when I arrived.
• She doesn't eat much breakfast.
see also  bed and breakfast, continental breakfast, English breakfast, power breakfast, wedding breakfast, see a dog's breakfast/dinner at  dog  _n.  
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from the verb break  + the verb fast.  
Culture:
meals
Americans and British people generally eat three meals a day though the names vary according to people’s lifestyles and where they live.
The first meal of the day is breakfast. The traditional full English breakfast served in many British hotels may include fruit juice, cereal, bacon and eggs, often with sausages and tomatoes, toast and marmalade, and tea or coffee. Few people have time to prepare a cooked breakfast at home and most have only cereal and/or toast with tea or coffee. Others buy coffee and a pastry on their way to work.
The traditional American breakfast includes eggs, some kind of meat and toast. Eggs may be fried, ‘over easy’, ‘over hard’ or ‘sunny side up’, or boiled, poached or in an omelette (= beaten together and fried). The meat may be bacon or sausage. People who do not have time for a large meal have toast or cereal and coffee. It is common for Americans to eat breakfast in a restaurant. On Saturday and Sunday many people eat brunch late in the morning. This consists of both breakfast and lunch dishes, including pancakes and waffles (= types of cooked batter) that are eaten with butter and maple syrup.
Lunch, which is eaten any time after midday, is the main meal of the day for some British people, though people out at work may have only sandwiches. Some people also refer to the midday meal as dinner. Most workers are allowed about an hour off work for it, called the lunch hour, and many also go shopping. Many schools offer a cooked lunch (school lunch or school dinner), though some students take a packed lunch of sandwiches, fruit, etc. Sunday lunch is special and is, for many families, the biggest meal of the week, consisting traditionally of roast meat and vegetables and a sweet course. In the US lunch is usually a quick meal, eaten around midday. Many workers have a half-hour break for lunch, and buy a sandwich from near their place of work. Business people may sometimes eat a larger lunch and use the time to discuss business.
The main meal of the day for most people is the evening meal, called supper, tea or dinner. It is usually a cooked meal with meat or fish or a salad, followed by a sweet course. In Britain younger children may have tea when they get home from school. Tea, meaning a main meal for adults, is the word used in some parts of Britain especially when the evening meal is eaten early. Dinner sounds more formal than supper, and guests generally receive invitations to ‘dinner’ rather than to ‘supper’. In the US the evening meal is called dinner and is usually eaten around 6 or 6.30 p.m. In many families, both in Britain and in the US, family members eat at different times and rarely sit down at the table together.
Many people also eat snacks between meals. Most have tea or coffee at mid-morning, often called coffee time or the coffee break. In Britain in the past this was sometimes also called elevenses. In the afternoon many British people have a tea break. Some hotels serve afternoon tea which consists of tea or coffee and a choice of sandwiches and cakes. When on holiday/vacation people sometimes have a cream tea of scones, jam and cream. In addition many people eat chocolate bars, biscuits (AmE cookies) or crisps (AmE chips). Some British people have a snack, sometimes called supper, consisting of a milk drink and a biscuit before they go to bed. In the US children often have milk and cookies after school. 
Example Bank:
• He treated his wife to breakfast in bed on her birthday.
• Low-fat cheeses and yogurt are good breakfast foods.
• Would you clear away the breakfast things?
• a full English breakfast of cereal, bacon and eggs and toast
• Do you want bacon and eggs for breakfast?
• I always have a cooked breakfast.
• I'm going to have a nice leisurely breakfast tomorrow.
• She doesn't eat much breakfast.

• The price per person includes a full English breakfast.

verb intransitive ~ (on sth) (formal)
to eat breakfast
 
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from the verb break  + the verb fast.  
Example Bank:
• Many of the hotel's guests had already breakfasted and departed.

• They breakfasted on coffee and hot rolls.

coffee

cof·fee [coffee coffees]   [ˈkɒfi]    [ˈkɔːfi]    [ˈkɑːfi]  noun
1. uncountable, countable the roasted seeds (called coffee beans) of a tropical bush; a powder made from them
• decaffeinated/instant coffee
• ground/real coffee
• a jar of coffee
• a blend of Brazilian and Colombian coffees

• coffee ice cream

2. uncountable a hot drink made from coffee powder and boiling water. It may be drunk with milk and/or sugar added
• black/white coffee (= without/with milk)
• Tea or coffee?
• I'll just make the coffee.

• Let's talk over coffee (= while drinking coffee).

3. countable a cup of coffee

• Two strong black coffees, please.

4. uncountable the colour of coffee mixed with milk; light brown
see wake up and smell the coffee at  wake  _v.  
Word Origin:
late 16th cent.: from Turkish kahveh, from Arabic qahwa, probably via Dutch koffie.  
Example Bank:
• An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.
• Do you drink coffee?
• He brought in two mugs of steaming coffee.
• He took a sip of his coffee.
• I had two coffees while I waited.
• I have milk but no sugar in my coffee.
• I'll make some coffee for breakfast.
• Let's go for a coffee when you've finished your essay.
• She drinks very milky coffee with lots of sugar.
• Tea and coffee-making facilities are available in the kitchen.
• The others will be back soon— I'll go and make some fresh coffee.
• Would you like real or instant coffee?
• a mug of strong black coffee
• a packet of freshly-ground coffee
• a pot of piping hot coffee
• coffee laced with cognac

• freshly brewed coffee

coffee shop

ˈcoffee shop [coffee shop coffee shops]       noun

a small restaurant, often in a store, hotel, etc, where coffee, tea, other drinks without alcohol and simple food are served

dinner

din·ner [dinner dinners]   [ˈdɪnə(r)]    [ˈdɪnər]  noun
1. uncountable, countable the main meal of the day, eaten either in the middle of the day or in the evening
• It's time for dinner.
• When do you have dinner?
• What time do you serve dinner?
• Let's invite them to dinner tomorrow.
• What shall we have for dinner tonight?
• It's your turn to cook dinner.
• She didn't eat much dinner.
• I never eat a big dinner.
• Christmas dinner
• a three-course dinner
• I'd like to take you out to dinner tonight.

• (BrE) school dinners (= meals provided at school in the middle of the day)

2. countable a large formal social gathering at which dinner is eaten
• The club's annual dinner will be held on 3 June.
see also  dinner party
more at a dog's breakfast/dinner at  dog  _n.
Idiom: done like a dinner  
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French disner (infinitive used as a noun), probably from desjëuner ‘to break fast’, from des- (expressing reversal) + jëun ‘fasting’.  
Culture:
meals
Americans and British people generally eat three meals a day though the names vary according to people’s lifestyles and where they live.
The first meal of the day is breakfast. The traditional full English breakfast served in many British hotels may include fruit juice, cereal, bacon and eggs, often with sausages and tomatoes, toast and marmalade, and tea or coffee. Few people have time to prepare a cooked breakfast at home and most have only cereal and/or toast with tea or coffee. Others buy coffee and a pastry on their way to work.
The traditional American breakfast includes eggs, some kind of meat and toast. Eggs may be fried, ‘over easy’, ‘over hard’ or ‘sunny side up’, or boiled, poached or in an omelette (= beaten together and fried). The meat may be bacon or sausage. People who do not have time for a large meal have toast or cereal and coffee. It is common for Americans to eat breakfast in a restaurant. On Saturday and Sunday many people eat brunch late in the morning. This consists of both breakfast and lunch dishes, including pancakes and waffles (= types of cooked batter) that are eaten with butter and maple syrup.
Lunch, which is eaten any time after midday, is the main meal of the day for some British people, though people out at work may have only sandwiches. Some people also refer to the midday meal as dinner. Most workers are allowed about an hour off work for it, called the lunch hour, and many also go shopping. Many schools offer a cooked lunch (school lunch or school dinner), though some students take a packed lunch of sandwiches, fruit, etc. Sunday lunch is special and is, for many families, the biggest meal of the week, consisting traditionally of roast meat and vegetables and a sweet course. In the US lunch is usually a quick meal, eaten around midday. Many workers have a half-hour break for lunch, and buy a sandwich from near their place of work. Business people may sometimes eat a larger lunch and use the time to discuss business.
The main meal of the day for most people is the evening meal, called supper, tea or dinner. It is usually a cooked meal with meat or fish or a salad, followed by a sweet course. In Britain younger children may have tea when they get home from school. Tea, meaning a main meal for adults, is the word used in some parts of Britain especially when the evening meal is eaten early. Dinner sounds more formal than supper, and guests generally receive invitations to ‘dinner’ rather than to ‘supper’. In the US the evening meal is called dinner and is usually eaten around 6 or 6.30 p.m. In many families, both in Britain and in the US, family members eat at different times and rarely sit down at the table together.
Many people also eat snacks between meals. Most have tea or coffee at mid-morning, often called coffee time or the coffee break. In Britain in the past this was sometimes also called elevenses. In the afternoon many British people have a tea break. Some hotels serve afternoon tea which consists of tea or coffee and a choice of sandwiches and cakes. When on holiday/vacation people sometimes have a cream tea of scones, jam and cream. In addition many people eat chocolate bars, biscuits (AmE cookies) or crisps (AmE chips). Some British people have a snack, sometimes called supper, consisting of a milk drink and a biscuit before they go to bed. In the US children often have milk and cookies after school. 
Thesaurus:
dinner noun U, C
• They invited us to dinner.
lunch • • supper • • meal • • banquet • • feast • |BrE tea • |formal luncheon •
have/invite sb for/to dinner/lunch/supper/a meal/banquet/feast/tea/luncheon
eat/serve dinner/lunch/supper/a meal/tea/luncheon
get dinner/lunch/supper/tea/a meal
Which word? A main or formal meal eaten in the evening is usually called dinner. Lunch is eaten in the middle of the day; in Britain some people call this dinner if it is the main meal of the day. Tea is usually a light afternoon meal with a cup of tea, but it can also refer to an evening meal, especially one for children. Supper is an informal evening meal or a light meal before bedtime.  
Collocations:
Restaurants
Eating out
eat (lunch/dinner)/dine/meet at/in a restaurant
go (out)/take sb (out) for lunch/dinner/a meal
have a meal with sb
make/have a reservation (in/under the name of Yamada)
reserve/ (especially BrE) book a table for six
ask for/request a table for two/a table by the window
In the restaurant
wait to be seated
show sb to their table
sit in the corner/by the window/at the bar/at the counter
hand sb/give sb the menu/wine list
open/read/study/peruse the menu
the restaurant has a three-course set menu/a children's menu/an extensive wine list
taste/sample/try the wine
the waiter takes your order
order/choose/have the soup of the day/one of the specials/the house (BrE) speciality/(especially NAmE) specialty
serve/finish the first course/the starter/the main course/dessert/coffee
complain about the food/the service/your meal
enjoy your meal
Paying
pay/ask for (especially BrE) the bill/(NAmE) the check
pay for/treat sb to dinner/lunch/the meal
service is (not) included
give sb/leave (sb) a tip 
More About:
meals
People use the words dinner, lunch, supper and tea 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 BrE, 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 BrE, tea is a light meal in the afternoon with sandwiches, cakes, etc. and a cup of tea: ▪ a cream tea. It can also be a main meal eaten early in the evening, especially by children: ▪ What time do the kids have their tea?
As a general rule, if dinner is the word someone uses for the meal in the middle of the day, they probably call the meal in the evening tea or supper. If they call the meal in the middle of the day lunch, they probably call the meal in the evening dinner.
Brunch, a combination of breakfast and lunch, is becoming more common, especially as a meal where your guests serve themselves. 
Example Bank:
• A gala dinner was held to celebrate the world premiere of the movie.
• A state dinner was held in honour of the visiting Japanese premier.
• Are we expected to dress for dinner?
• I always forgot to take my dinner money to school.
• My old school is giving a fund-raising dinner
• The club's annual dinner is this week.
• The extensive dinner menu includes Russian delicacies.
• The former Olympic champion was invited to speak at a charity dinner.
• The school dinner menu always includes a balance of food types.
• There was never much conversation at the dinner table in my family.
• They invited three couples to a dinner party at their house.
• We attended the formal reunion dinner.
• We didn't wash up the dinner things until the morning after.
• We're going to attend a formal dinner in aid of cancer research.
• a bone-china dinner service
• the society's annual dinner dance
• Have you had dinner yet?
• I used to hate school dinners.
• I'd like to take you out to dinner tonight.
• It's time for dinner.
• It's your turn to get dinner.
• Let's invite them to dinner.
• She didn't eat much dinner.
• The club's annual dinner will be held on the 4th of June.

• The evening includes a three-course dinner with wine.

dinner table

ˈdinner table f91 [dinner table dinner tables]       noun (often the dinner table) usually singular
the table at which people are eating dinner; an occasion when people are eating together
• conversation at the dinner table
• The dinner table was laden with crystal and silver.

compare  dining table

cook

cook [cook cooks cooked cooking] verb, noun   [kʊk]    [kʊk] 

verb
1. intransitive, transitive to prepare food by heating it, for example by boiling, baking or frying it
• Where did you learn to cook?
• ~ sth What's the best way to cook trout?
• Who's going to cook supper?
• Add the onion and cook for three minutes.
• He cooked lunch for me.

• ~ sb sth He cooked me lunch.

2. intransitive (of food) to be prepared by boiling, baking, frying, etc

• While the pasta is cooking, prepare the sauce.

3. intransitive be cooking (informal) to be planned secretly
• Everyone is being very secretive— there's something cooking.
 
Word Origin:
Old English cōc (noun), from popular Latin cocus, from Latin coquus.  
Thesaurus:
cook verb T, I
• There are various ways to cook fish.
make • • bake • • roast • • toast • • fry • • grill • • barbecue • |AmE broil • |especially AmE fix • |especially spoken get • |especially written prepare •
cook/make/fix/get/prepare breakfast/lunch/dinner
cook/roast/fry/grill/barbecue/broil/prepare chicken
cook/bake/roast/fry potatoes  
Collocations:
Cooking
Preparing
prepare a dish/a meal/a menu/dinner/the fish
weigh out 100g/4oz of sugar/the ingredients
wash/rinse the lettuce/spinach/watercress
chop/slice/dice the carrots/onions/potatoes
peel the carrots/onion/potatoes/garlic/orange
grate a carrot/the cheese/some nutmeg
remove/discard the bones/seeds/skin
blend/combine/mix (together) the flour and water/all the ingredients
beat/whisk the cream/eggs/egg whites
knead/shape/roll (out) the dough
Cooking
heat the oil in a frying pan
preheat/heat the oven/(BrE) the grill/(NAmE) the broiler
bring to (BrE) the boil/(NAmE) a boil
stir constantly/gently with a wooden spoon
reduce the heat
simmer gently for 20 minutes/until reduced by half
melt the butter/chocolate/cheese/sugar
brown the meat for 8-20 minutes
drain the pasta/the water from the pot/in a colander
mash the potatoes/banana/avocado
Ways of cooking
cook food/fish/meat/rice/pasta/a Persian dish
bake (a loaf of) bread/a cake/(especially NAmE) cookies/(BrE) biscuits/a pie/potatoes/fish/scones/muffins
boil cabbage/potatoes/an egg/water
fry/deep-fry/stir-fry the chicken/vegetables
grill meat/steak/chicken/sausages/a hot dog
roast potatoes/peppers/meat/chicken/lamb
sauté garlic/mushrooms/onions/potatoes/vegetables
steam rice/vegetables/spinach/asparagus/dumplings
toast bread/nuts
microwave food/popcorn/(BrE) a ready meal
Serving
serve in a glass/on a bed of rice/with potatoes
arrange the slices on a plate/in a layer
carve the meat/lamb/chicken/turkey
dress/toss a salad
dress with/drizzle with olive oil/vinaigrette
top with a slice of lemon/a scoop of ice cream/whipped cream/syrup
garnish with a sprig of parsley/fresh basil leaves/lemon wedges/a slice of lime/a twist of orange
sprinkle with salt/sugar/herbs/parsley/freshly ground black pepper 
Example Bank:
• Ensure that the meat is cooked through.
• I'll cook you a special meal for your birthday.
• Make sure you cook the meat well.
• The vegetables were cooked perfectly.
• Turn the fish over so that it cooks evenly.
• the smell of freshly cooked bacon
• What's the best way to cook trout?
• Who's going to cook supper?
Idioms: cook somebody's goose ▪ cook the books ▪ cooking with gas ▪ too many cooks spoil the broth

Derived: cook something up 

noun
a person who cooks food or whose job is cooking
• John is a very good cook (= he cooks well).
• Who was the cook (= who cooked the food)?
• She was employed as a cook in a hotel.
compare  chef  
Word Origin:
Old English cōc (noun), from popular Latin cocus, from Latin coquus.  
Example Bank:
• He's a very good cook.
• She wants to become a professional cook.

• easy recipes for home cooks

singer

sing·er [singer singers]   [ˈsɪŋə(r)]    [ˈsɪŋər]  noun
a person who sings, or whose job is singing, especially in public
• She's a wonderful singer.
• an opera singer  
Thesaurus:
singer noun C
• the band's lead singer
vocalist • • musician • • artist • • performer • • entertainer •
a talented/famous singer/vocalist/musician/artist/performer/entertainer 
Example Bank:
• A local singer belted out the national anthem.
• I was just a lounge singer in a Key West bar.
• Our wedding singers are the best in Las Vegas.
• She will perform with two guest singers.
• Singers took turns to perform songs they had written.
• a singer who sounds like Rufus Wainwright
• a soulful jazz singer
• an aspiring concert singer

• an interview with the band's lead singer

musician

mu·si·cian [musician musicians]   [mjuˈzɪʃn]    [mjuˈzɪʃn]  noun
a person who plays a musical instrument or writes music, especially as a job
• a jazz/rock musician  
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French musicien, from Latin musica, from Greek mousikē (tekhnē) ‘(art) of the Muses’, from mousa ‘muse’.  
Thesaurus:
musician noun C
• The musicians came back on stage and bowed.
performer • • singer • • artist • • artiste • • entertainer •
a talented/famous musician/performer/singer/artist/entertainer 
Example Bank:
• She had toured as a backing musician for Madonna.

• You have to be a very dedicated musician to get to the top.

artist

art·ist [artist artists]   [ˈɑːtɪst]    [ˈɑːrtɪst]  noun
1. a person who creates works of art, especially paintings or drawings
• an exhibition of work by contemporary British artists
• a graphic artist
• a make-up artist
• Police have issued an artist's impression of her attacker.
• In Paris she met a group of young artists: poets, film-makers and painters.

• (figurative) Whoever made this cake is a real artist.

2. (especially BrE ar·tiste   [ɑːˈtiːst]  ;   [ɑːrˈtiːst]  ) a professional entertainer such as a singer, a dancer or an actor
• a recording/solo artist
• (especially BrE) Among the artistes appearing on our show tonight we have…
• He was a true artiste: sensitive, dramatic and tragic.  
Word Origin:
early 16th cent. (denoting a master of the liberal arts): from French artiste, from Italian artista, from arte ‘art’, from Latin ars, art-.  
Thesaurus:
artist noun
1. C
• an exhibition of work by contemporary Danish artists
painter • • sculptor •
a contemporary/talented/famous artist/painter/sculptor
a/an abstract/impressionist/portrait/landscape artist/painter
2. C
• After the duo split up, Kit became a successful solo artist.
performer • • entertainer • • artiste • • musician • • singer • • dancer •
a famous/talented/aspiring artist/performer/entertainer/musician/singer/dancer 
Collocations:
Fine arts
Creating art
make a work of art/a drawing/a sketch/a sculpture/a statue/engravings/etchings/prints
do an oil painting/a self-portrait/a line drawing/a rough sketch
create a work of art/an artwork/paintings and sculptures
produce paintings/portraits/oil sketches/his most celebrated work/a series of prints
paint a picture/landscape/portrait/mural/in oils/in watercolours/(especially US) in watercolors/on canvas
draw a picture/a portrait/a cartoon/a sketch/a line/a figure/the human form/in charcoal/in ink
sketch a preliminary drawing/a figure/a shape
carve a figure/an image/a sculpture/an altarpiece/reliefs/a block of wood
sculpt a portrait bust/a statue/an abstract figure
etch a line/a pattern/a design/a name into the glass
mix colours/(especially US) colors/pigments/paints
add/apply thin/thick layers of paint/colour/(especially US) color/pigment
use oil pastels/charcoal/acrylic paint/a can of spray paint
work in bronze/ceramics/stone/oils/pastels/watercolour/a wide variety of media
Describing art
paint/depict a female figure/a biblical scene/a pastoral landscape/a domestic interior
depict/illustrate a traditional/mythological/historical/religious theme
create an abstract composition/a richly textured surface/a distorted perspective
paint dark/rich/skin/flesh tones
use broad brush strokes/loose brushwork/vibrant colours/a limited palette/simple geometric forms
develop/adopt/paint in a stylized manner/an abstract style
Showing and selling art
commission an altarpiece/a bronze bust of sb/a portrait/a religious work/an artist to paint sth
frame a painting/portrait
hang art/a picture/a painting
display/exhibit modern art/sb's work/a collection/original artwork/ drawings/sculptures/a piece
be displayed/hung in a gallery/museum
install/place a sculpture in/at/on sth
erect/unveil a bronze/marble/life-size statue
hold/host/mount/open/curate/see (especially BrE) an exhibition/(NAmE usually) exhibit
be/go on (BrE) exhibition/(NAmE) exhibit
feature/promote/showcase a conceptual artist/contemporary works
collect African art/modern British paintings/Japanese prints
restore/preserve a fresco/great works of art 
Example Bank:
• He is a serious artist, and totally committed to his work.
• In 1942 the city commissioned war artist John Piper to paint its bombed cathedral.
• Local artists are currently exhibiting their work at the gallery.
• Local watercolour artists are currently exhibiting their work in the town hall.
• My husband is a real artist in the kitchen.
• She set up the gallery so that up-and-coming artists could exhibit their work.
• The Blue Note Quartet will be the guest artists tomorrow night.
• The agency began to represent Chinese artists.
• The artists explored common themes.
• The festival featured artists such John Mclaughlin and Russell Malone.
• The festival featured up-and-coming young artists.
• The museum's featured artists include Degas, Cézanne and Renoir.
• a group of artists who specialize in jazz-themed art
• an artist who paints in oils
• an exhibition featuring wildlife artist Emma Gray
• artists who work in different media
• the new artist in residence at the Tate Gallery
• A mime artist's movements must be clear to the audience.
• After the band broke up, Joe relaunched his career as a solo artist.
• Caruso was probably the most popular recording artist of his time.
• Even the most beautiful celebrities need the services of a make-up artist.
• In Paris she met a group of young artists: poets, film-makers and painters.
• Police have issued an artist's impression of her attacker.

• The advertisement was designed professionally by a graphic artist.