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)

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

meated

ˈmē-təd 

adjective

meatless adjective

Synonyms

• 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

Here it was used to replace the meat in the traditional Thai dish, Khao Soi Luang-Prabang. —Leah Collins, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024

The restaurant’s name — Bobby Mac’s BBQ — is inspired by Jones’ two grandfathers, Bobby and Mac, who taught him the backyard art of smoking meat. —Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024

The most common types are chicken paella, seafood paella and mixed paella, which is a medley of seafood, meat and vegetables. —Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024

Customers also can enjoy yakitori (skewered meats) and sushi. —Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 11 Apr. 2024

The former is a distinct brand name and swims in a pool of chili gravy and doesn't usually include meat or sugars. —Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2024

Lobster three ways using meat, shells and offal demonstrates a tradition of letting nothing go to waste. —Florence Fabricant, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024

The meat, though flavorful, erred on the side of saltiness, with the shreds of meat being a tad bit too long. —Emily Curiel, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2024

Delightfully fresh and usually raw, salsas provide brightness and zing to an assortment of meats, fish, vegetables and grains. —Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024

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

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

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