bread

American  

[bred] / brɛd /

noun

1. a kind of food made of flour or meal that has been mixed with milk or water, made into a dough or batter, with or without yeast or other leavening agent, and baked.

2. food or sustenance; livelihood.

   to earn one's bread.

3. Slang.  money.

4. Ecclesiastical.  the wafer or bread used in a Eucharistic service.

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verb (used with object)

1. Cooking.  to cover with breadcrumbs or meal.

idioms

1. know which side one's bread is buttered on,  to be aware of those things that are to one's own advantage.

2. take the bread out of someone's mouth,  to deprive someone of livelihood.

3. cast one's bread upon the waters,  to act generously or charitably with no thought of personal gain.

4. break bread,

   1. to eat a meal, especially in companionable association with others.

   2. to distribute or participate in Communion.

bread British  

/ brɛd /

noun

1. a food made from a dough of flour or meal mixed with water or milk, usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked

2. necessary food; nourishment

   give us our daily bread

3. a slang word for money

4. Christianity a small loaf, piece of bread, or wafer of unleavened bread used in the Eucharist

5. something offered as a means of distracting attention from a problem or grievance

6. See break

7. to do good without expectation of advantage or return

8. to know what to do in order to keep one's advantages

9. to deprive someone of a livelihood

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verb

1. (tr) to cover with breadcrumbs before cooking

   breaded veal

bread More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing bread

• break bread
• greatest thing since sliced bread
• know which side of bread is buttered
• take the bread out of someone's mouth

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Other Word Forms

• breadless adjective
• breadlessness noun
• unbreaded adjective

Etymology

Origin of bread

before 950; 1950–55 bread for def. 3; Middle English breed, Old English brēad fragment, morsel, bread; cognate with German Brot

Example Sentences

The case has sparked public outcry in South Korea, with labour unions comparing the worker to Jean Valjean, the protagonist of French classic novel "Les Miserables" jailed for stealing bread to feed his siblings.

From Barron's

Each Friday, friends drove to Munger’s home for a potluck lunch, carrying chicken sandwiches with butter on soft white bread, the crusts sometimes removed.

From The Wall Street Journal

I love using Portuguese bread for my breadcrumbs, it has a slight tangy flavor, like a more subtle version of sourdough that adds a great bite and toastiness to the mac and cheese.

From Salon

Even the Romans knew the bread they supplied with the circuses had to be affordable.

From The Wall Street Journal

"They bring us food, water and bread. There is bread maybe once a week or once every four days."

From BBC

Related Words

• cabbage
• dough