breakfast

American  

[brek-fuhst] / ˈbrɛk fəst /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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verb

1. to eat or supply with breakfast

Other Word Forms

• breakfaster noun
• breakfastless adjective
• postbreakfast adjective

Etymology

Origin of breakfast

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

Example Sentences

One corner of Sundance was just for the geeks: the Holiday Village Cinemas, a humble quadraplex that hosted press and industry screenings from breakfast till dark.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s way healthier than what I used to be eating for breakfast.”

From The Wall Street Journal

“Strong wings, griffins. I once knew a griffin,” she said, “fly all the way to the moon, and eat a chunk of it for breakfast, and be backs for dinner.”

From Literature

“Well, this is a pig’s breakfast. Looks like a raid.”

From Literature

Others skimp on breakfast and lunch and try to save their allowance of dollars and calories for dinner.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• brunch