The act of setting out or serving meals—placing dishes on the table or distributing food. Often used in contexts like hospitals, schools, or inns (commonly used as 'to serve meals').
給食の時間になったので、学生たちは配膳を手伝った。
It was lunchtime, so the students helped with serving the meals.
配膳担当のスタッフが食器を順番に配っていった。
The staff in charge of serving distributed the dishes in order.
高齢者施設では、配膳の時間帯に職員が入念に確認を行う。
At the elderly care facility, staff carefully check things during meal-serving times.