Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

dumbwaiter

noun
ˈdəmˌwātər
Definition
A small elevator or lift used for transporting food, dishes, or other items between different floors of a building.
Examples
  • The restaurant used a dumbwaiter to send meals from the kitchen to the dining area upstairs.
  • He installed a dumbwaiter in his home to make it easier to transport groceries from the basement to the second floor.
  • Before modern elevators, many large houses featured dumbwaiters for convenience.
Meaning
The term ‘dumbwaiter’ refers to a service lift that typically operates between floors, facilitating the movement of items without requiring the presence of an attendant.
Synonyms
  • service lift
  • lift
  • elevator (in context)