consume

American  

[kuhn-soom] / kənˈsum /

verb (used with object)

consumed, consuming

1. to destroy or expend by use; use up.

   Synonyms:

   deplete, exhaust

2. to eat or drink up; devour.

3. to destroy, as by decomposition or burning.

   Fire consumed the forest.

4. to spend (money, time, etc.) wastefully.

   Synonyms:

   dissipate, squander

5. to absorb; engross.

   consumed with curiosity.

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verb (used without object)

consumed, consuming

1. to undergo destruction; waste away.

2. to use or use up consumer goods.

consume British  

/ kənˈsjuːm /

verb

1. (tr) to eat or drink

2. (tr; often passive) to engross or obsess

3. (tr) to use up; expend

   my car consumes little oil

4. to destroy or be destroyed by burning, decomposition, etc

   fire consumed the forest

5. (tr) to waste or squander

   the time consumed on that project was excessive

6. (passive) to waste away

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Other Word Forms

• consuming adjective
• consumingly adverb
• half-consumed adjective
• overconsume verb
• preconsume verb (used with object)
• unconsumed adjective
• underconsume verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of consume

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French consumer, from Latin consūmere, from con- con- + sūmere “to take up” (equivalent to subs-, variant of sub- sub- + emere “to take, buy”; emptor ( def. ) )

Example Sentences

Guar gum, a thickener often added to bubble tea and generally safe in small quantities, may also contribute to constipation when consumed frequently.

From Science Daily

That surge has been accompanied by growing concern about the knock-on effects of the facilities, especially the large amounts of energy and water they consume.

From BBC

Almost a fifth of the petroleum consumed around the world each day flows through the deep channel between Iran and Oman, much of it from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab producers.

From The Wall Street Journal

When a person consumes about 20 mg of caffeine, such as from coffee, chocolate, or soda, it causes the nanobody and its partner protein to bind together.

From Science Daily

Archaea that consume methylamines, along with certain bacteria that may have acquired the same ability, play an important role in human health.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• absorb
• deplete
• devour
• dominate
• drain
• eat up
• employ
• exhaust
• expend
• obsess
• preoccupy
• spend
• waste