morsel

American  

[mawr-suhl] / ˈmɔr səl /

noun

1. a bite, mouthful, or small portion of food, candy, etc.

2. a small piece, quantity, or amount of anything; scrap; bit.

3. something very appetizing; treat or tidbit.

4. a person or thing that is attractive or delightful.

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verb (used with object)

1. to distribute in or divide into tiny portions (often followed byout ).

   to morsel out the last pieces of meat.

morsel British  

/ ˈmɔːsəl /

noun

1. a small slice or mouthful of food

2. a small piece; bit

3. informal a term of endearment for a child

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Etymology

Origin of morsel

1250–1300; Middle English < Old French, equivalent to mors a bite (< Latin morsum something bitten off, noun use of neuter of morsus, past participle of mordēre to bite) + -el < Latin -ellus diminutive suffix; -elle

Example Sentences

The cattle shortage has led companies to try to cut costs and scrape every morsel of meat off each cattle carcass.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025

"I'd lost every morsel of confidence that I possibly could have had," remembers Williams.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2025

Anchored by its leads, “Coup!” is a tasty morsel of social commentary about problems that continue to plague our world.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 31, 2024

I'm really fine with not needing to optimize every morsel I consume for maximum nutrition and health.

From Salon • Feb. 5, 2024

Once or twice she had seen the father furtively slip the child an extra morsel from his plate, but he was plainly too spineless to stand up for her against his shrew of a wife.

From "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare

Related Words

• chunk
• crumb
• hunk
• mouthful
• snack
• tidbit