ENGLISH
REFERENCE

graze

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɡɹeɪz// UK //ɡɹˈeɪz// graze

v. to eat grass or other plants in a field. You use this when talking about animals like cows or sheep, or when you eat small amounts of food throughout the day.

v. to feed on growing herbage, such as grass or pasture. When applied to humans, it describes the habit of eating small, frequent snacks rather than structured meals.


SIMPLE

The sheep graze peacefully in the green field.

CONTEXTUAL

Instead of eating a full lunch, she prefers to graze on healthy snacks throughout the afternoon.

COMPLEX

The cattle were permitted to graze across the common land, a practice that maintained the grass height and supported the local ecosystem's biodiversity.

Synonyms
Origin

From Old English grasian (“to feed on grass”), from græs (“grass”).

Usage

Intransitive when describing the general act of feeding; transitive when specifying the land being fed upon.

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