eating

American  

[ee-ting] / ˈi tɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that eats.

2. food with reference to its quality or tastiness when eaten.

   This fish is delicious eating.

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adjective

1. used in eating.

   They brought out plates and eating utensils for dinner.

2. good or fit to eat, especially raw.

   A sweet, crisp Gala is the perfect eating apple for a summer salad.

eating British  

/ ˈiːtɪŋ /

noun

1. food, esp in relation to its quality or taste

   this fruit makes excellent eating

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adjective

1. relating to or suitable for eating, esp uncooked

   eating pears

2. relating to or for eating

   an eating house

Other Word Forms

• uneating adjective

Etymology

Origin of eating

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English; eat ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun senses; eat ( def. ) + -ing ² for the adjective senses

Example Sentences

They describe the details of their lives; practising yoga despite the sounds of explosions, eating birthday cake alone and venturing out to near-empty coffee shops.

From BBC

The deal comes as McCormick, which sells French’s mustard, Old Bay seasoning and Frank’s RedHot sauces along with its spice range, was struggling as consumers’ spending and eating habits are in flux.

From MarketWatch

“There’s more emphasis on adopting healthy eating patterns early in life and then maintaining them,” said Dr. Alice H. Lichtenstein, a co-author of the report and professor of nutrition science and policy at Tufts University.

From The Wall Street Journal

Petite and Black, with hundreds of tiny braids cascading down her back, she walked with unexpectedly long strides, eating up the pavement while looking straight ahead, body framed by late-afternoon summer sunlight.

From Literature

Mom used to come with us, and if she were here, she’d be eating a funnel cake like me.

From Literature

Related Words

• chewing
• consumption
• dining