meal

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈmēl 

1

: an act or the time of eating a portion of food to satisfy appetite

2

: the portion of food eaten at a meal

meal

2 of 3

noun (2)

1

: the usually coarsely ground and unbolted seeds of a cereal grass or pulse

especially : cornmeal

2

: a product resembling seed meal especially in particle size or texture

-meal

3 of 3

adverb combining form

: by a (specified) portion or measure at a time

piecemeal

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• chow
• feed
• menu
• mess
• refection
• repast
• table

Examples of meal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In the show, the audience is invited to a world where playing with your food is an important part of each meal. —Jamie Lang, Variety, 30 Apr. 2024

In addition to an eat-in chef’s kitchen and a summer kitchen decked out with premium-grade appliances, there’s an ample formal dining room and several patios for alfresco snacks and meals. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 29 Apr. 2024

Gore said World Central Kitchen has 276 trucks with the equivalent of nearly 8 million meals ready to enter through the Rafah crossing with Egypt. —James Doubek, NPR, 28 Apr. 2024

At breakfast, guests can enjoy fresh açaí bowls and avocado toast with chili flakes and equally satiating meals are available for both lunch and dinner. —Monica Mendal, Vogue, 27 Apr. 2024

While working there, Prater began to observe the students who attended events where meals were provided. —Hadley Meares, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Apr. 2024

Short on funding and with barely enough hot meals to last for the next six weeks, the U.N.’s World Food Program joined the appeal for humanitarian assistance for Haiti. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2024

Both meals finished with fruit ice cream, which is highly atypical of traditional Chinese meals. —Yan Zhuang, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2024

Come hungry, make reservations, and be prepared for a number of unforgettable meals. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English meel appointed time, meal, from Old English mǣl; akin to Old High German māl time, Latin metiri to measure — more at measure

Noun (2)

Middle English mele, from Old English melu; akin to Old High German melo meal, Latin molere to grind, Greek mylē mill

Adverb combining form

Middle English -mele, from Old English -mǣlum, from mǣlum, dative plural of mǣl

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing meal

• a meal in itself
• fish meal
• Indian meal
• make a meal (out) of
• matzo meal
• meal ticket
• midday meal
• pre-meal
• square meal

Kids Definition

meal

1 of 2 noun

ˈmēl 

1

: the food eaten or prepared for eating at one time

2

: the act or time of eating a meal

meal

2 of 2 noun

1

: ground seeds of a cereal grass

especially : cornmeal

2

: something like meal especially in texture

Etymology

Noun

Old English mæl "appointed time, meal"

Noun

Old English melu "ground grain"

Medical Definition

meal

noun

ˈmē(ə)l 

: the portion of food taken at one time to satisfy appetite