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.

---

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

---

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

The program has continued to attract respectable ratings, but viewers who not long ago clamored for any morsel of gossip relating to the liaison are already declaring it old news.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 29, 2024

“It makes a reality show out of William and Kate, and Harry and Meghan and Charles and Camilla. And we become glued to our phone screens for the next morsel of gossip.”

From Seattle Times • Feb. 8, 2024

Then, he traded a tablespoon of honey to sweeten the tea he had just sold for another morsel of bread and cheese, which he gave to me.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri

Related Words

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