plural meats
1
a
: the flesh of an animal used as food
She doesn't eat meat.
a piece/slice of meat
raw meat
(US) ground meat
meat sauce [=sauce that contains meat]
Note: Meat often refers specifically to the flesh of mammals or birds instead of the flesh of fish. It can also sometimes refer only to the flesh of mammals.
b
: a type of meat
The restaurant serves a variety of meats.
sandwich meats
2
: the part of something (such as a nut) that can be eaten
coconut meat
3
: the most important or interesting part of something
The real meat of the book is found in its discussion of his economic plan.
4
US
: the thickest part of something (such as a baseball bat)
He hit the ball right on the meat of the bat.
Cite this Entry
“Meat.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/meat. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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