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food

n.
US //ˈfud// UK //fˈuːd// food
  1. 1 sustenance (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    things that people and animals eat to stay healthy and alive.

    any substance consumed by living organisms to provide nutritional support and energy. Usually uncountable in this general sense.

    Example

    We need to buy some fresh food for the weekend trip.

    Example

    The humanitarian agency worked tirelessly to ensure that emergency food reached the remote villages before the winter snow blocked the mountain passes.
  2. 2 mental or spiritual fuel (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    something that makes you think or gives you energy for your mind.

    anything that provides mental or spiritual nourishment or serves as a source of inspiration. Used figuratively and usually uncountable.

    Example

    The professor's lecture provided plenty of food for thought.

    Example

    The documentary provided much-needed food for the soul, reminding the audience of the resilience of the human spirit in times of crisis.
Origin

From Middle English fode, foode, from Old English fōda (“food”), from Proto-West Germanic fōdō, from Proto-Germanic fōdô (“food”), from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂- (“to guard, graze, feed”). Cognate with Scots fuid (“food”), Low German föde, vöde (“food”), West Frisian fiedsel (“food”), Dutch voedsel (“food”) Danish føde (“food”), Swedish föda (“food”), Icelandic fæða, fæði (“food”), Gothic 𐍆𐍉𐌳𐌴𐌹𐌽𐍃 (fōdeins, “food”), Latin pānis (“bread, food”), Latin pāscō (“feed, nourish”, verb). Related to fodder, foster.

Word family
Idioms7 entries

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