intake
Americannoun
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the place or opening at which a fluid is taken into a channel, pipe, etc.
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an act or instance of taking in.
an intake of oxygen.
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something that is taken in.
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a quantity taken in.
an intake of 50 gallons a minute.
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a narrowing; contraction.
noun
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a thing or a quantity taken in
an intake of students
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the act of taking in
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the opening through which fluid enters a duct or channel, esp the air inlet of a jet engine
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a ventilation shaft in a mine
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a contraction or narrowing
an intake in a garment
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of intake
First recorded in 1515–25; noun use of verb phrase take in
Explanation
The act of consuming food can be called intake. A veterinarian might advise you to limit your dog's intake of pizza crusts, for example. While the process of eating can be called your intake, unless you're a militant dieter who weighs every ounce of food you consume, you're most likely to hear the word intake in a hospital or doctor's office. Caregivers might be concerned about a patient's intake of calories if he's very sick, or a dietitian might recommend an elderly woman increase her intake of calcium.
Vocabulary lists containing intake
"Modern Automotive Technology," Vocabulary from Section 2
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Articles on Nutrition
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The majority of the studies on UPFs that make headlines are observational papers looking at associations between self-reported food intake and health outcomes—these tell us little about whether UPFs actually cause ill health.
From Slate • Jul. 12, 2026
“It’s the biggest intake day of the year,” Oreck said.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 3, 2026
Insufficient calcium intake and low vitamin D can limit the body’s ability to build and maintain strong bones.
From Science Daily • Jun. 25, 2026
Some worry that insufficient calorie and nutrient intake could compromise bone growth, puberty and brain development.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 22, 2026
He was filled with energy, and he breathed again, feeling the sharp intake of frigid air.
From "The Giver" by Lois Lowry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
