kibble

¹ American  

[kib-uhl] / ˈkɪb əl /

verb (used with object)

kibbled, kibbling

1. to grind or divide into particles or pellets, as coarse-ground meal or prepared dry dog food.

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noun

1. grains or pellets resulting from a kibbling process.

kibble ² American  

[kib-uhl] / ˈkɪb əl /

noun

British.

1. an iron bucket used in mines for hoisting ore.

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kibble ¹ British  

/ ˈkɪbəl /

verb

1. (tr) to grind into small pieces

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noun

1. ground meal formed into pellets and used as pet food

kibble ² British  

/ ˈkɪbəl /

noun

1. a bucket used in wells or in mining for hoisting

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Etymology

Origin of kibble¹

First recorded in 1780–90; origin uncertain

Origin of kibble²

First recorded in 1665–75, kibble is from the German word Kübel pail, vat

Example Sentences

Now chronic disease is on the rise, a scourge these animal lovers attribute to ultraprocessed kibble and overmedication.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026

A few days before their park outing, Zero gave Whitfield a scare when he stopped eating his kibble.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 23, 2025

I then fed my dog kibble containing seaweed extract that most likely came from China and fish oil that was probably from Peru.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 26, 2024

Cats require kibble, distractions from destroying your furniture, litter box maintenance and affection.

From Salon • Jul. 31, 2024

But I know he’s got a whole good bin full of kibble at his own house.

From "The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle" by Leslie Connor

Related Words

• grate
• pulverize
• reduce
• scrape