gobble

The word "gobble" has two main everyday uses. Most often, it means to eat very quickly and eagerly, usually in big bites and with little care. If someone gobbles down their lunch, they eat fast, often because they are very hungry or in a hurry. The word can suggest enjoyment, but it can also hint at bad manners or a lack of control.

It is also often used in a figurative way. People can gobble up a novel in one evening, readers can gobble up gossip online, and a large company can gobble up a smaller one. In these cases, the idea is still the same: something is being taken in quickly and eagerly.

There is another important meaning: a turkey gobbles. This is the name for the loud, throaty sound the bird makes. Because of that strong image, the eating sense of the word feels vivid and a little playful. Whether it describes a child finishing cookies, a reader racing through a story, or a turkey calling in a field, "gobble" usually gives a sense of speed, eagerness, and noise.