The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word CATER
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
C
A
T
E
R
More clues leading to the result CATER
- Ensure provision is made to do the dishes?
- Provide entertainment and grub without support
- Provide food initially to everyone boarding railway carriage
- Produce food from damaged crate
- Provide food — type of sugar but no seconds
- Provide food and drink in broken crate
- Crate ordered to provide for event?
- Feed mog last scraps of fine dinner
- Possibly a queenprovide food and drink
- Supply food for a disheartened type in credit
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Provide food and drink" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case provide food and drink = cater.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does CATER mean?
CATER noun- Caterer
- To provide, particularly:
- A person employed to obtain and maintain the storage of provisions, especially food.
- A person or company hired to provide and serve food, usually for a large group and at a location separate from where the food is prepared.
- Someone who supplies what is needed, especially food.
- An officer who provided provisions for the king's household.
- A procurer; a pimp.
- To place, set, move, or cut diagonally or rhomboidally.
- Diagonally.
- Four.
- The four of cards or dice.
- A method of ringing nine bells in four pairs with a ninth tenor bell.