meal

[ meel ]

/ mil /

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See synonyms for: meal / meals on Thesaurus.com

noun

the food served and eaten especially at one of the customary, regular occasions for taking food during the day, as breakfast, lunch, or supper.

one of these regular occasions or times for eating food.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of meal

before 900; Middle English; Old English mǣl measure, fixed time, occasion, meal; cognate with German Mal time, Mahl meal, Old Norse māl,Gothic mēl time, hour

OTHER WORDS FROM meal

mealless, adjective

Other definitions for meal (2 of 3)

meal²

[ meel ]

/ mil /

noun

a coarse, unsifted powder ground from the edible seeds of any grain: wheat meal; cornmeal.

any ground or powdery substance, as of nuts or seeds, resembling this.

Origin of meal

before 900; Middle English mele,Old English melu; cognate with German Mehl,Dutch meel,Old Norse mjǫl; akin to Gothic malan,Latin molere to grind. See mill¹

OTHER WORDS FROM meal

mealless, adjective

Other definitions for meal (3 of 3)

-meal

a native English combining form, now unproductive, denoting a fixed measure at a time: piecemeal.

Origin of -meal

Middle English -mele,Old English -mǣlum, combining form representing mǣlmeal¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use meal in a sentence

Yet we keep doing the cleanses, buying the meal replacement bars, and joining Weight Watchers.
Why Your New Year’s Diet Will Fail|Carrie Arnold|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Like any exciting meal, Food will leave you smiling and satisfied.
The 10 Best Albums of 2014: Taylor Swift, Sia, Run the Jewels, and More|Marlow Stern|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the mid-afternoon, Ramos and Liu were parked on Tomkins Avenue on a meal break.
In The Shadow of Murdered Cops|Michael Daly|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
What better way to bring up a serious issue without commandeering the meal?
How to Make It Through Thanksgiving Alive|Lizzie Crocker|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST

He refused to dine with people, because he did not like being agitated during meal times.
The Death of the English Eccentric|Tom Sykes|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Individual samples may be slightly alkaline, especially after a full meal.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
Following the boys, Baptiste entered by the kitchen door to encounter the mother and three daughters preparing the meal.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
She smiled a smile after this that was one of satisfaction, and at that moment her sisters called that the meal was ready.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
In my house there has never been sufficient food for a solid meal, and I have not land enough even for an insect to rest upon.
Our Little Korean Cousin|H. Lee M. Pike
He was still at breakfast, and advancing slowly in the meal, like a gentleman whose breakfast was his greatest care in life.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various

British Dictionary definitions for meal (1 of 2)

meal¹

/ (miːl) /

noun

any of the regular occasions, such as breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc, when food is served and eaten
(in combination)mealtime Related adjective: prandial

the food served and eaten

make a meal of informal to perform (a task) with unnecessarily great effort

Word Origin for meal

Old English mǣl measure, set time, meal; related to Old High German māl mealtime

British Dictionary definitions for meal (2 of 2)

meal²

/ (miːl) /

noun

the edible part of a grain or pulse (excluding wheat) ground to a coarse powder, used chiefly as animal food

Scot oatmeal

mainly US maize flour

Derived forms of meal

meal-less, adjective

Word Origin for meal

Old English melu; compare Dutch meel, Old High German melo, Old Norse mjöl

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with meal

meal

In addition to the idiom beginning with meal

meal ticket

; also see

square meal

meal

Origin of meal

OTHER WORDS FROM meal

Other definitions for meal (2 of 3)

Origin of meal

OTHER WORDS FROM meal

Other definitions for meal (3 of 3)

Origin of -meal

Words related to meal

How to use meal in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for meal (1 of 2)

Word Origin for meal

British Dictionary definitions for meal (2 of 2)

Derived forms of meal

Word Origin for meal

Other Idioms and Phrases with meal