meal — an occasion when food is eaten, or the food that is eaten on such an occasion
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: an occasion when food is eaten, or the food that is eaten on such an occasion
Pronunciation (IPA): /miːl/
Example Sentences
- My mom's cooking is so bad that our dog started ordering takeout meals.
- She prepared a wonderful meal for her family.
- Don't forget to eat your meals on time.
meal
NOUN[/miːl/]
an occasion when food is eaten, or the food that is eaten on such an occasion
Family enjoying dinner together
A real good deal makes a real good meal!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Meal derives from Old English mǣl, originally meaning 'appointed time' or 'fixed time.' Over time, the word's meaning shifted to refer to food consumed at a designated time, eventually settling into its modern sense of a portion of food eaten at one sitting.
Breakdown
mǣl (appointed time) → meal. The semantic evolution reflects a metonymy where the concept of 'set time' became associated with 'food eaten at that time,' a common pattern in linguistic development.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My mom's cooking is so bad that our dog started ordering takeout meals.”
“She prepared a wonderful meal for her family.”
“Don't forget to eat your meals on time.”
“The airline meal was so tiny, I thought it was just the appetizer.”
📚Related Words
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