in Cambridge dictionary, [C] refers to
Countable noun: a noun that has a plural
[U] refers to
Uncountable or singular noun: a noun that has no plural.
What does [ C or U ] mean? Take this (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/dinner) as our running example.
I guess that means this word could be used as Countable or Uncountable and depends on the context. However, I didn't see that in the examples in the first section.
In AMERICAN DICTIONARY section, there are indeed examples marked [ U ], all of them!
How do I understand [ C or U ] here correctly?
Best Answer
Interesting question.
Many uncountable nouns can also be used as countable when a particular instance is being referred to (eg injustice, truth).
But that doesn't seem to apply here: dinner (like other meals) is usually uncountable even when it refers to a particular occasion:
But there are a few cases where it can be used as a countable noun. One is when talking about catering for a particular (or vague) number of people:
All the other cases I can think of are talking about particular instances, but are often optional:
I think "dinner" (uncountable) is more common here, but "dinners" is possible, treating them as separate events.
Edit: one particular case which is always plural (and hence countable) is the idiomatic exclamation: ... more [something] than you've had hot dinners!
Another is when a particular event is further qualified, as in a candlelit dinner above.
Note: I am ignoring the different meaning of dinner, as a formal dining event, usually with speeches. This is always countable.