diet

[ dahy-it ]

/ ˈdaɪ ɪt /

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See synonyms for: diet / dieting on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

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.

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.

the foods eaten, as by a particular person or group: The Mediterranean diet consists historically of fish, fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts.

food or feed habitually eaten or provided: The rabbits were fed a diet of carrots and lettuce.

anything that is habitually provided or partaken of: Television has given us a steady diet of reality shows and police procedurals.

adjective

suitable for consumption as part of a selection of food intended to induce weight loss: I usually drink diet soft drinks.

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), di·et·ed, di·et·ing.

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.

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

verb (used with object), di·et·ed, di·et·ing.

to regulate the food of, especially in order to improve the physical condition: They dieted the dog to a healthy weight of 20 pounds.

to feed.

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Origin of diet

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

OTHER WORDS FROM diet

di·et·er, nounnon·di·et·er, nounnon·di·et·ing, adjective, noun

Other definitions for diet (2 of 2)

diet²

[ dahy-it ]

/ ˈdaɪ ɪt /

noun

the legislative body of certain countries, as Japan.

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

Origin of diet

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”; see diet¹

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

How to use diet in a sentence

When people say that, they mean a healthy diet can boost your health.
Warning! Junk foods can harm a teen’s brain|Sharon Oosthoek|November 19, 2020|Science News For Students
Then they were sorted into five groups, depending on how healthy their diets were.
Warning! Junk foods can harm a teen’s brain|Sharon Oosthoek|November 19, 2020|Science News For Students
Even the fish available in the bazaar, a staple of the local diet, is changing—there are fewer freshwater fish and more brackish-water fish on sale.
Asia’s biggest climate migration|Konstantin Kakaes|November 19, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Because really what you needed to compare apples to apples is overall reach of this information, and sort of what is the information, sort of, exposure diet of the average Facebook user.
EmTech Stage: Facebook’s CTO on misinformation|Tate Ryan-Mosley|November 18, 2020|MIT Technology Review

Worse, a diet heavy in sweet aphorisms makes discerning reflections on life taste all the more unappetizing.
Paulo Coelho’s ‘The Archer’ aims for profundity but misses|Ron Charles|November 11, 2020|Washington Post
Three of the performers in said act, Richard Faughnan, Dieter Schepp and Mario, fell.
Thrills and Too Many Spills: The Dangers of the Circus|Marina Watts|May 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As a lifelong dieter, I firmly believed that saturated fat was the enemy.
Eating More Fat Could Save Your Life|Daniela Drake|December 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Since IIFYM takes both into consideration, it puts the dieter in a very good position right out of the gate.
Is the IIFYM Diet Right for You?|DailyBurn|December 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
We spoke to both Trahan and Richard Dieter, the executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center.
Retarded—And Executed in Texas|Matthew DeLuca|August 7, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Revulsion at Loughner and his acts is understandable, said Dieter.
Jared Loughner Trial Could Expand Support for the Death Penalty|Lisa Miller|January 15, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Master Dieter has a sweetheart for every finger, though the lower part of his own body isn't quite as handsome as it might be.
Complete Short Works|Georg Ebers

British Dictionary definitions for diet (1 of 2)

diet¹

/ (ˈdaɪət) /

noun

a specific allowance or selection of food, esp prescribed to control weight or in disorders in which certain foods are contraindicateda salt-free diet; a 900-calorie diet
(as modifier)a diet bread

the food and drink that a person or animal regularly consumesa diet of nuts and water

regular activities or occupations

verb

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

Derived forms of diet

dieter, noun

Word Origin for diet

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

British Dictionary definitions for diet (2 of 2)

diet²

/ (ˈdaɪət) /

noun

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

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

Scots law

the date fixed by a court for hearing a case
a single session of a court

Word Origin for diet

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

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

diet

Origin of diet

OTHER WORDS FROM diet

Other definitions for diet (2 of 2)

Origin of diet

Words related to diet

How to use diet in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for diet (1 of 2)

Derived forms of diet

Word Origin for diet

British Dictionary definitions for diet (2 of 2)

Word Origin for diet