Return to the home page.

Expand/collapse menu.

Visit Our Sites

Unabridged Dictionary

Learner's Dictionary

Word Central for Kids

Collegiate Dictionary

Expand/collapse menu.

Premium Services

Unabridged Dictionary

Collegiate Dictionary

Encyclopedia Britannica

Institutional Subscriptions

Expand/collapse menu.

Expand/collapse menu.

Word of the Day

Subscriber Help

Expand/collapse menu.

More Word Games

Daily Crosswords

Expand/collapse menu.

Open Dictionary

Alphabetical Browse

Browse Categories

Submit an Entry

Expand/collapse menu.

Spelling Bee Hive

Hive Headquarters

Spelling Champion

Spelling Reform

Expand/collapse menu.

Word for the Wise

Today's Broadcast

Expand/collapse menu.

Books and CD-Roms

Online Services

Palm and Pocket PC

Expand/collapse menu.

Looking Up a Word

Citing the Dictionary

Audio Pronunciations

Word Games Help

Expand/collapse menu.

Merriam-Webster FAQ

Advertising Info

Copyright Notice

Also Visit:
Unabridged

Visual
ESL:
Learner's
for Kids:
Spell It!
Word Central

consumption

Browse the Dictionary:: A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; X; Y; Z; #

consumption

Main Entry:: con·sump·tion
Pronunciation:: \kən-ˈsəm(p)-shən\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: Middle English consumpcioun, from Latin consumption-, consumptio, from consumere
Date:: 14th century

1 a: a progressive wasting away of the body especially from pulmonary tuberculosis b: tuberculosis2 a: the act or process of consuming <consumption of food> <consumption of resources> b: use by or exposure to a particular group or audience <the document was not intended for public consumption>3: the utilization of economic goods in the satisfaction of wants or in the process of production resulting chiefly in their destruction, deterioration, or transformation

Learn more about "consumption" and related topics at Britannica.com

See a map of "consumption" in the Visual Thesaurus

Find Jobs in Your City

Pronunciation Symbols