food

noun, often attributive \ˈfüd\

: the things that people and animals eat

: a particular kind of food

: substances taken in by plants and used for growth

Full Definition of FOOD

a : material consisting essentially of protein, carbohydrate, and fat used in the body of an organism to sustain growth, repair, and vital processes and to furnish energy; also : such food together with supplementary substances (as minerals, vitamins, and condiments)

b : inorganic substances absorbed by plants in gaseous form or in water solution

: nutriment in solid form

: something that nourishes, sustains, or supplies <food for thought>

— food·less \-ləs\ adjective

— food·less·ness noun

See food defined for English-language learners

See food defined for kids

Origin of FOOD

Middle English fode, from Old English fōda; akin to Old High German fuotar food, fodder, Latin panis bread, pascere to feed

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to FOOD

Synonyms: bread, chow, chuck [chiefly West], comestibles, eatables, eats, edibles, fare, foodstuffs, grub, meat, provender, provisions, table, tucker [chiefly Australian], viands, victuals, vittles

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

Rhymes with FOOD

brood, crowd, crude, dude, feud, hued, Jude, lewd, lude, mood, nude, oud, pood, prude, pseud, rood, rude, shrewd, snood, stewed, 'tude, wood, wud

FOOD Defined for Kids

food

noun \ˈfüd\

Definition of FOOD for Kids

: the material that people and animals eat : material containing carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and supplements (as minerals and vitamins) that is taken in by and used in the living body for growth and repair and as a source of energy for activities

: inorganic substances (as nitrate and carbon dioxide) taken in by green plants and used to build organic nutrients

: organic materials (as sugar and starch) formed by plants and used in their growth and activities

: solid food as distinguished from drink

Medical Dictionary

food

noun , often attrib \ˈfüd\

Medical Definition of FOOD

: material consisting essentially of protein, carbohydrate, and fat used in the body of an organism to sustain growth, repair, and vital processes and to furnish energy; also : such material together with supplementary substances (as minerals, vitamins, and condiments)

: nutriment in solid form