Definition and meaning of English word "meal"
meal
/miːl/
Meaning
NounCorrect quotes.
How to use
The term 'meal' is commonly used in everyday conversation to refer to a portion of food eaten at a specific time of the day, such as breakfast, lunch, or dinner. A notable grammatical nuance is that 'meal' can be used with various adjectives to specify the type or quality of food being referred to, e.g., 'a light meal' or 'a formal meal'. Learners should be cautious not to confuse 'meal' with 'food', as 'food' has a broader meaning and can refer to any substance eaten to sustain life.
🇬🇧 English
meal
Example
I had a meal
She cooks a meal
Your personal vocabulary
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Common phrases
- have a meal— to eat a portion of food at a specific time of the day
- prepare a meal— to cook or make food for eating
- enjoy a meal— to take pleasure in eating a meal
This concept in other languages
Frequency rank: #356 in English
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the English word "meal" mean?▼
The English word "meal" means "meal" in English.
How do you pronounce the English word "meal"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "meal" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "meal"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Food" (which translates as "meal").
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