diet

¹

[dahy-it]

noun

1. food and drink considered in terms of its qualities, composition, and its effects on health.

   The ad shows milk and dairy as a wholesome part of our daily diet.

2. a particular selection of food, especially as designed or prescribed to improve a person's physical condition or to prevent or treat a disease.

   A diet low in sugar is often recommended for diabetes prevention.

3. a selection of food that emphasizes caloric restriction or otherwise limits the amount a person eats, usually intended to induce weight loss.

   No pie for me, I'm on a diet.

4. the foods eaten, as by a particular person or group.

   The Mediterranean diet consists historically of fish, fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts.

5. food or feed habitually eaten or provided.

   The rabbits were fed a diet of carrots and lettuce.

6. anything that is habitually provided or partaken of.

   Television has given us a steady diet of reality shows and police procedurals.

adjective

1. suitable for consumption as part of a selection of food intended to induce weight loss.

   I usually drink diet soft drinks.

2. formulated to be lower in calories, fat, sugar, etc. than a similar food.

   The diet version of the cookie does taste different.

verb (used without object)

dieted, dieting 

1. to select or limit the food one eats to improve one's physical condition or to lose weight.

   I've dieted all month and lost only one pound.

2. to eat or feed according to the requirements of a particular or prescribed selection of food.

verb (used with object)

dieted, dieting 

1. to regulate the food of, especially in order to improve the physical condition.

   They dieted the dog to a healthy weight of 20 pounds.

2. to feed.

diet

²

[dahy-it]

noun

1. the legislative body of certain countries, as Japan.

2. the general assembly of the estates of the former Holy Roman Empire.

diet

¹

/ ˈdaɪət /

noun

1. 1. a specific allowance or selection of food, esp prescribed to control weight or in disorders in which certain foods are contraindicated

      a salt-free diet

      a 900-calorie diet

   2. ( as modifier )

      a diet bread

2. the food and drink that a person or animal regularly consumes

   a diet of nuts and water

3. regular activities or occupations

verb

1. (usually intr) to follow or cause to follow a dietary regimen

diet

²

/ ˈdaɪət /

noun

1. (sometimes capital) a legislative assembly in various countries, such as Japan

2. Also called: Reichstag. (sometimes capital) the assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire

3. Scots law

   1. the date fixed by a court for hearing a case

   2. a single session of a court

Other Word Forms

• dieter noun
• nondieter noun
• nondieting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of diet¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English noun diete “day’s journey, appointed day, way of living,” from Anglo-French, Old French diete, from Latin diaeta, from Greek díaita “way of living, diet,” equivalent to dia- dia- + -aita (akin to aîsa “share, lot”; the verb is derivative of the noun

Origin of diet²

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin diēta “public assembly,” the same word as Latin diaeta with sense affected by Latin diēs “day”; diet ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of diet¹

C13: from Old French diete, from Latin diaeta, from Greek diaita mode of living, from diaitan to direct one's own life

Origin of diet²

C15: from Medieval Latin diēta public meeting, probably from Latin diaeta _diet ¹ but associated with Latin diēs day

Example Sentences

To study the effects of green tea on obesity, the research team fed mice a high-calorie diet for four weeks, with both fat and what they call a "cafeteria diet," which mimics the Western diet.

Read more on Science Daily

"The ladybirds that will do well are those that can survive these extreme environments and have a wide diet range."

Read more on BBC

That's because, as Prof Cruickshank explains, "your diet, your level of activity, your level of stress, and sleep are all factors that affect immune functions."

Read more on BBC

You know, before he summons someone to bring him a diet soda.

Read more on Salon

It feels as if my diet has gone from bountiful to bland, my prospects from mysterious to mundane.

Read more on Los Angeles Times