meat

noun

ˈmēt 

1

a

: food

especially : solid food as distinguished from drink

b

: the edible part of something as distinguished from its covering (such as a husk or shell)

coconut meat

2

: animal tissue considered especially as food:

a

: flesh sense 2b

also : flesh of a mammal as opposed to fowl or fish

b

: flesh sense 1a

specifically : flesh of domesticated animals

3

archaic : meal entry 1 sense 1

especially : dinner

4

a

: the core of something : heart

b

: pith sense 2b

a novel with meat

5

: favorite pursuit or interest : jam sense 6b

meated

ˈmē-təd 

adjective

meatless adjective

Synonyms of meat

• flesh

Examples of meat in a Sentence

The restaurant serves a variety of meats.

The real meat of the book is found in its discussion of his economic plan.

Recent Examples on the Web

The same French word became the name for savory meat jelly, though exactly why is uncertain—possibly because of its appearance or cold, glossy character. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026

The shape, size and meat blend of a burger are all factors in how to cook it. — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Jack Callahan was just a kid when his dad, William, ran the place, with his wife using a VW van for deliveries and the kids – Jack included – shucking lobster meat for those famed rolls. — Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 15 Aug. 2026

Unlike other meat products, the cost of chicken has seen little fluctuation in recent months, so much so that July’s 3-cent drop signaled the single biggest monthly change dating back to November 2024. — Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English mete "food, meal," going back to Old English, going back to Germanic *mati- (whence Old Saxon meti, mat "food," Old High German maz, Old Norse matr, Gothic mats), perhaps going back to Indo-European *mod-i-, derivative of a verbal base *med- "become full," whence Greek mestós "full, satiated"

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing meat

• dark meat
• dead meat
• luncheon meat
• lunch meat
• meat-and-potatoes
• meat-ax
• meat loaf
• meat market
• meat sweats
• red meat
• variety meat
• white meat

Rhymes for meat

• beat
• beet
• bleat
• cheat
• cleat
• creat
• deet
• eat
• feat
• feet
• fleet
• greet

Kids Definition

meat

noun

ˈmēt 

1

a

: something eaten for nourishment

especially : solid food as distinguished from drink

b

: the edible part of something as distinguished from the covering (as a shell or husk)

walnut meat

2

: animal and especially mammal flesh used as food