DictionaryAI

food

noun
FOOD/fuːd/

4 meanings of food

Practice

  1. 1
    what we eatnoununcountable
    Things that people and animals eat to live and grow, or one kind of these things.

    Like fuel for a car: your body needs food to keep going.

    We bought enough food to last the whole week.

    Animals need food and clean water every day.

    UsageSay some food or a lot of food.

    Similarnourishment, sustenance, provisions

  2. 2
    for the mindnounfigurativelyuncountable
    Something that feeds the mind or feelings instead of the body.

    Just as your body needs meals, your mind needs new ideas to grow.

    Kind words can be food for a lonely heart.

    Music was food for his tired spirit after a long day.

    Usagefood for thought means something worth thinking about.

    Similarfuel, nourishment, sustenance, inspiration

  3. 3
    noununcountable
    The material a plant, animal, or other living thing takes in or makes, and uses to get energy and grow.

    Green leaves use sunlight to make food for the whole plant.

    Carrot plants keep extra food in their thick orange roots.

    Similarnourishment

Less common meaning

  1. 4
    noundialectalMulticultural London English
    A slang word for illegal drugs that people buy and sell.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of food apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old English fōda, meaning "food." It comes from older Germanic and Indo-European roots meaning "to feed." It is related to "fodder" and "foster."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts