WordGarden.iomeal
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /mˈiːl/
US
- /ˈmil/
Meanings
Noun
food eaten at one time, or the occasion of eating it
Beyond the definition
A meal is food that we eat at one of the usual times of day, such as breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It is usually more than just a small snack. It can be simple, like soup and bread, or large, like a holiday feast. The word often suggests a time to sit down, eat, and feel fed after work, travel, or a long day.
The word "meal" refers to food eaten at a usual time of day, most often breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It usually means more than a small bite or snack. A meal can be simple or large, quick or formal, homemade or bought from a restaurant. It may be eaten alone, but it is also often something people share with family, friends, or guests.
The idea is not limited to only three set times. People also talk about brunch, school meals, evening meals, or a light meal in the afternoon. The size and style can vary a lot, from a quick bowl of noodles to a full holiday dinner with several dishes.
The word can focus on the food itself or on the eating occasion. For example, a "hot meal" stresses what is served, while "have a meal together" stresses the shared time. Common phrases include "balanced meal," "full meal," "three meals a day," and "meal plan."
It also appears in a few special uses. A "last meal" can mean the final food someone eats before death, and in British English, "make a meal of something" means to make a small thing seem bigger or harder than it is.
So, the word usually points to food eaten as part of a proper eating time, but it can also carry ideas of comfort, routine, and time spent with other people.
Examples
- 1
Everyday eating
We had a quick meal before the movie.
- 2
Daily routine
Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.
- 3
Hotel service
The hotel serves three meals a day.
- 4
Eating habits
Try not to snack between meals.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Home cooking
She cooked a simple meal for the children.
- 6
Main meal
We usually eat our main meal in the evening.
- 7
Light eating
It was just a light meal, so I was hungry again later.
- 8
Family meal
They sat down to a meal with the whole family.
- 9
Enough food
The soup was filling enough to make a meal of.
- 10
Idiom
Don't make a meal of the paperwork; just fill in the form and send it.
- Phrasemake a meal of something
make something seem more difficult or important than it is
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- mealnounverb
Forms
- mealspluralnounverb
- mealing-ing formverbnoun
- mealedpast tenseverbnoun