food

[food]

noun

1. any nourishing substance that is eaten, drunk, or otherwise taken into the body to sustain life, provide energy, promote growth, etc.

   Synonyms: menu, diet, meat, sustenance, bread, aliment, nutriment

2. more or less solid nourishment, as distinguished from liquids.

3. a particular kind of solid nourishment.

   a breakfast food; dog food.

4. whatever supplies nourishment to organisms.

   plant food.

5. anything serving for consumption or use.

   food for thought.

food

/ fuːd /

noun

1. any substance containing nutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, that can be ingested by a living organism and metabolized into energy and body tissue

2. nourishment in more or less solid form as opposed to liquid form

   food and drink

3. anything that provides mental nourishment or stimulus

   food for thought

Other Word Forms

• foodless adjective
• foodlessness noun
• nonfood noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of food¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English fode, Old English fōda; compare Old English fēdan, Gothic fōdjan feed; fodder ( def. ), foster

Word History and Origins

Origin of food¹

Old English fōda ; related to Old Frisian fōdia to nourish, feed, Old Norse fœthi , Gothic fōdeins food; see _feed , _fodder

Synonym Study

Food, fare, provisions, ration(s) all refer to nutriment. Food is the general word: Breakfast foods have become very popular. Many animals prefer grass as food. Fare refers to the whole range of foods that may nourish a person or animal: an extensive bill of fare; The fare of some animals is limited in range. Provisions is applied to a store or stock of necessary things, especially food, prepared beforehand: provisions for a journey. Ration implies an allotment or allowance of provisions: a daily ration for each man of a company. Rations often means food in general: to be on short rations.

Example Sentences

They camped out in various bureaucracies, literally sleeping in the office and having food delivered.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Likely targets for lowered tariffs include other food items, textiles, or home goods where the U.S. is highly reliant on imports that have minimal strategic value, says Owen Tedford, an analyst at Beacon Policy Advisors.

Read more on Barron's

Instead of traveling, dining out with friends or upgrading electronics, many gravitate toward streaming services, casual mobile games, instant food, budget beauty products and home-comfort items.

Read more on MarketWatch

Important Foundation were sorting food Saturday morning in the 31000 block of Auto Center Drive when someone took off with the truck, according to police and published reports.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Investigators had originally had suspicions about food poisoning, as the family had visited the tourist neighbourhood of Ortakoy for street food prior to the deaths.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• bread 
• cooking 
• cuisine 
• drink 
• fare 
• feed 
• foodstuff 
• meal 
• meat 
• snack