food

[ food ]
See synonyms for: foodfoods on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. any nourishing substance that is eaten, drunk, or otherwise taken into the body to sustain life, provide energy, promote growth, etc.

  2. more or less solid nourishment, as distinguished from liquids.

  1. a particular kind of solid nourishment: a breakfast food; dog food.

  2. whatever supplies nourishment to organisms: plant food.

  3. anything serving for consumption or use: food for thought.

Origin of food

1
First recorded before 1000; Middle English fode, Old English fōda; compare Old English fēdan, Gothic fōdjan feed; cf. fodder, foster

synonym study For food

1. Food, fare, provisions, ration(s) all refer to nutriment. Food is the general word: Breakfast foods have become very popular. Many animals prefer grass as food. Fare refers to the whole range of foods that may nourish a person or animal: an extensive bill of fare; The fare of some animals is limited in range. Provisions is applied to a store or stock of necessary things, especially food, prepared beforehand: provisions for a journey. Ration implies an allotment or allowance of provisions: a daily ration for each man of a company. Rations often means food in general: to be on short rations.

Other words for food

Other words from food

  • foodless, adjective
  • food·less·ness, noun
  • non·food, noun, adjective

Words Nearby food

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use food in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for food

food

/ (fuːd) /


noun
  1. any substance containing nutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, that can be ingested by a living organism and metabolized into energy and body tissue: Related adjective: alimentary

  2. nourishment in more or less solid form as opposed to liquid form: food and drink

  1. anything that provides mental nourishment or stimulus: food for thought

Origin of food

1
Old English fōda; related to Old Frisian fōdia to nourish, feed, Old Norse fœthi, Gothic fōdeins food; see feed, fodder

Derived forms of food

  • foodless, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012