food

noun, often attributive

\ ˈfüd

Definition of food

1a : 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.

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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 The show also features special guest celebrity appearances, special events, activities, contests, great KOI deals, good food, and tons of fun. — Luann Gibbs, Cincinnati.com, "Things to do in Cincinnati this week: Jan. 6-12," 6 Jan. 2020 Another group of pediatricians gather at pharmacies to warn people against eating locally grown and raised food, about the high level of dioxins in local women’s breast milk and about local reports suggesting a drop in local children’s IQ levels. — Jason Horowitz, New York Times, "Troubles at an Aging Steel Mill Mirror Italy’s Own," 4 Jan. 2020 As people ingest food, the body’s normal response is to secrete bile into the small intestine. — Houston Chronicle, "Betrayed by bile: bile acids help norovirus sneak into cells," 3 Jan. 2020 After wolfing down the food, Rojas said, the couple ordered 10 burritos to go before heading off to the flight back to Denver. — Los Angeles Times, "Felix, Little Man and other beloved Los Angeles logos," 2 Jan. 2020 One of the most successful post-Occupy movements against inequality has been Fight for 15, a campaign for $15 minimum wages, which began a year after Occupy, with fast-food worker walkouts in New York City. — Osita Nwanevu, The New Republic, "The Rise of the Permanent Protest," 1 Jan. 2020 Some really excellent sandwiches The past decade in food, for me, turns out to have been very much a decade of sandwiches. — Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, "The Best Things I’ve Eaten This Decade," 31 Dec. 2019 All Saints’ has a Loaves and Fishes Ministry, which accepts Sunday-morning offerings of nonperishable food and toiletries, to be distributed at Neighbor’s Table. — Arkansas Online, "COMMUNITY EVENTS IN THE RIVER VALLEY & OZARK AREA," 31 Dec. 2019 Health records were found among rotting food, hundreds of empty soda cans and protein shake bottles and medical supplies, including loose syringes. — Crystal Hill, Indianapolis Star, "Abortion doctor kept fetal remains in moldy boxes amid piles of rubbish, report says," 31 Dec. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'food.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

10 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Food.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foods. Accessed 17 January 2020.

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More Definitions for food

food

noun

English Language Learners Definition of food

: the things that people and animals eat

: a particular kind of food

: substances taken in by plants and used for growth

See the full definition for food in the English Language Learners Dictionary

food

noun

\ ˈfüd

Kids Definition of food

1 : 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

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

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

4 : solid food as distinguished from drink

food

noun, often attributive

\ ˈfüd

Medical Definition of food

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

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