meat

[meet]

noun

1. the flesh of animals as used for food: in particular, mammals, especially livestock and game, and often including poultry and game birds.

2. the edible part of anything, as a fruit or nut.

   Crack the walnuts and remove the meats.

3. the essential point or part of an argument, literary work, etc.; gist; crux.

   The meat of the play is the jealousy between the two brothers.

4. solid food.

   meat and drink.

5. solid or substantial content; pith.

   The article was full of meat, with few wasted words.

6. a favorite occupation, activity, etc..

   Chess is his meat.

7. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S.,  pork, especially bacon.

8. Slang: Vulgar.,  penis.

9. Archaic.,  the principal meal.

   to say grace before meat.

meat

/ miːt /

noun

1. the flesh of mammals used as food, as distinguished from that of birds and fish

2. anything edible, esp flesh with the texture of meat

   crab meat

3. food, as opposed to drink

4. the essence or gist

5. an archaic word for meal 1

6. a source of pleasure

7. informal,  to lose nothing because one's offer is not accepted

Other Word Forms

• meatless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of meat¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English mete, met, methe “food, nourishment, sustenance,” Old English mete, mett, “food,” cognate with Old High German maz, Old Norse matr, Gothic mats

Word History and Origins

Origin of meat¹

Old English mete; related to Old High German maz food, Old Saxon meti, Gothic mats

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. piece of meat,

   1. a person regarded merely as a sex object.

      Years after winning a beauty pageant, she denounced the competition, saying she’d been crowned the judges’ favorite piece of meat.

   2. a person, as a prizefighter or laborer, regarded merely as a strong or useful physical specimen.

      The trainer never apologized for referring to his boxers as pieces of meat—if you made it to the top, he’d start calling you “Kid.”

More idioms and phrases containing meat

• beat the meat
• one's man's meat is another man's poison

Example Sentences

It even comes with straightforward meat probes that display their readings in the app, taking the guesswork out of doneness and making overcooked brisket a thing of the past.

Read more on Salon

When asked how to keep a Thanksgiving turkey juicy while cooking, Stewart pointed to her Turkey 101 recipe, which uses cheesecloth or parchment paper to keep the meat moist.

Read more on Salon

Although illegal, they’ve been known to dig their fingers into hot dogs before competitions, aiming to lure dogs forward with undetectable meat under their nails.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"Households continue to change their shopping habits to reduce spending, such as buying more vegetables and reducing meat consumption."

Read more on BBC

And an examination of all the root causes indicates that things are likely to get worse at the meat counter before they get better.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• food 
• foodstuff