food

noun

ˈfüd 

often attributive

1

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 (such as minerals, vitamins, and condiments)

drought victims who don't have enough food to eat

b

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

2

: nutriment in solid form

She gave food and drink to the hungry travelers.

3

: something that nourishes, sustains, or supplies

food for thought

Books were his mental food.

foodless

ˈfüd-ləs 

adjective

foodlessness noun

Synonyms

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

Examples of food in a Sentence

a farmer who grows his own food

drought victims who don't have enough food to eat

She gave food and drink to the hungry travelers.

What is your favorite food?

fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods

Recent Examples on the Web

Gaza will receive $1 billion in aid that includes funds for food, medical supplies and water. —Patrick Smith, NBC News, 26 Apr. 2024

The 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival kicks off Thursday at the Fair Grounds Race Course, bringing dozens of music acts and food vendors with it for consecutive weekends. —Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2024

In that moment—even if just for a few hours—food really did bring everyone together. —Kristen Bateman, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2024

And French food, in the era of Henri Soulé’s restaurant Le Pavillon, was very highly prized. —Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2024

The food is better if it’s picked up or eaten here ... —Michael Burgess, Charlotte Observer, 25 Apr. 2024

Separately, its addition of sugar into infant food in emerging markets has also come under scrutiny. —Dasha Afanasieva, Fortune Europe, 25 Apr. 2024

Read these books to shift into a healthier way of thinking about food. —Dana G. Smith Dana G. Smith, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2024

This would be a great first or last stop on the crawl, because coffee, food and cocktail options abound. —Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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 the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing food

• angel food cake
• comfort food
• devil's food cake
• fast-food
• finger food
• food bank
• food-borne
• food chain
• food coma
• food court
• food desert
• food fight
• food for thought
• food insecure
• food insecurity
• food pantry
• food poisoning
• food processor
• food pyramid
• food secure
• food stamp
• food truck
• food vacuole
• food web
• functional food
• health food
• junk food
• natural food
• plant food
• play with one's food
• soul food
• street food
• whole food

Kids Definition

food

noun

ˈfüd 

1

: material containing or consisting of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins used in the body of an animal to sustain growth, repair, and vital processes and to furnish energy

also : such material together with extra substances (as vitamins and minerals)

2

a

: organic substances taken in by green plants and used to build organic nutrients

b

: organic material produced by green plants and used by them as building material and as a source of energy

3

: nourishment in solid form

4

: something that nourishes, supports, or supplies

food for thought

Medical Definition

food

noun

ˈfüd 

often attributive

1

: 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)

2

: nutriment in solid form