food

      English

      Etymology

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

      Pronunciation

      Noun

      food (usually uncountable; plural foods)

      1. (uncountable) Any substance that is or can be consumed by living organisms, especially by eating, in order to sustain life.
        The innkeeper brought them food and drink.
      2. (countable) A foodstuff.
        This shop stocks many hundreds of different foods.
      3. (uncountable, figuratively) Anything intended to supply energy or nourishment of an entity or idea.
        That is food for thought.
        • Shakespeare
          This may prove food to my displeasure.
        • Wordsworth
          In this moment there is life and food / For future years.

      Usage notes

      • Adjectives often applied to "food": raw, cooked, baked, fried, grilled, processed, healthy, unhealthy, wholesome, nutritious, safe, toxic, tainted, adulterated, tasty, delicious, fresh, stale, sweet, sour, spicy, exotic, marine.

      Synonyms

      Derived terms

      Related terms

      Translations

      any substance consumed by living organisms to sustain life
      anything intended to supply energy or nourishment of other forms
      foodstuff

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      Last modified on 13 June 2013, at 18:35