canteen

/kænˈtin/

/kænˈtin/

Other forms: canteens

A canteen is a store that sells food and drink at an institution like a camp, college, or military base. A canteen can also be a small container used to carry water to drink.

If you’re at summer camp, you can buy snacks at the canteen. This kind of canteen is a little shop. At the canteen, you can buy little things like potato chips or a can opener. A canteen is like a convenience store. The other kind of canteen is good if you’re going on a hike — fill it up with water and put it in your backpack, since there probably aren’t any of those other kinds of canteens out in the woods.

Definitions of canteen

1. noun

   a room that sells food and personal items to personnel at an institution or school or camp etc.
   type of:

   shop, store

   a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
2. noun

   a restaurant in a factory where workers can eat
   type of:

   eatery, eating house, eating place, restaurant

   a building where people go to eat
3. noun

   a restaurant outside; often for soldiers or policemen
   synonyms: mobile canteen

   type of:

   eatery, eating house, eating place, restaurant

   a building where people go to eat
4. noun

   a recreation room in an institution
   type of:

   rec room, recreation room

   a room equipped for informal entertaining
5. noun

   a flask for carrying water; used by soldiers or travelers
   type of:

   flask

   bottle that has a narrow neck