breakfast

[brek-fuhst]

noun

1. the first meal of the day; morning meal.

   A hearty breakfast was served at 7 a.m.

2. the food eaten at the first meal of the day.

   a breakfast of bacon and eggs.

verb (used without object)

1. to eat breakfast.

   He breakfasted on bacon and eggs.

verb (used with object)

1. to supply with breakfast.

   We breakfasted the author in the finest restaurant.

breakfast

/ ˈbrɛkfəst /

noun

1. 1. the first meal of the day

   2. ( as modifier )

      breakfast cereal

      a breakfast room

2. the food at this meal

3. (in the Caribbean) a midday meal

verb

1. to eat or supply with breakfast

Other Word Forms

• breakfaster noun
• breakfastless adjective
• postbreakfast adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of breakfast¹

First recorded in 1425–75, breakfast is from the late Middle English word brekfast. See break, fast ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of breakfast¹

C15: from _break + _fast ²

Example Sentences

We fled late at night to stay at the house of a friend who lived nearby, returning the next morning for the included breakfast of Johnny Cakes shaped like axes.

Read more on Salon

He’s packed higher and lower courts with former clerks and mentees whom he’s cultivated at his Bible study, prayer breakfasts and similar events.

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Next, Doc’s Rube Goldberg-ian breakfast contraption whirs to action with burned toast and a glop of overflowing dog food, implying that he and his dog Einstein have themselves been missing for a while.

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In August, the Ukrainian president hosted an American-style prayer breakfast in Kyiv, attracting thousands of believers from Ukraine, America and across the globe.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But she was disappointed at the reaction of her fellow players when she walked into breakfast the following morning.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• brunch