breakfast
breakfast
Pronunciation
breakfast
/ˈbrɛkfəst/
break- /brɛk/:
/b/ - voiced bilabial stop
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant
/ɛ/ - open-mid front unrounded vowel
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
-fast /fəst/:
/f/ - voiceless labiodental fricative
/ə/ - schwa (mid-central vowel)
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
/t/ - voiceless alveolar stop
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: breakfast
Plural: breakfasts
Verb:
Base form: breakfast
Third-person singular present: breakfasts
Present participle: breakfasting
Past tense: breakfasted
Past participle: breakfasted
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
The first meal of the day, typically eaten in the morning, which breaks the overnight fast.
Synonyms: morning meal, first meal, brunch (if later and combined with lunch)
Antonyms: dinner, supper, lunch (as subsequent meals)
A specific food or set of foods commonly consumed during the first meal of the day.
Synonyms: morning fare, breakfast foods
Antonyms: (none directly applicable, as this refers to the type of food, not its absence)
Verb
To eat the first meal of the day.
Synonyms: dine, eat (specifically in the morning context), partake (of breakfast)
Antonyms: fast (abstain from food), skip (a meal)
Examples of Use
Books:
"Harry awoke with a gasp, his heart thumping. He sat up, pushing his glasses onto his nose, and looked around the dormitory. Seamus Finnigan was already dressed, heading for the door. 'Coming down for breakfast, Harry?' he asked." (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)
"She made a simple breakfast of eggs and toast, the smell filling the small kitchen, a comforting ritual before the day's uncertainties began." (Example of a generic contemporary novel)
Newspapers:
"The President held a working breakfast with key congressional leaders this morning to discuss the upcoming budget negotiations." (Example from a political news report in The New York Times)
"Local farmers are encouraging residents to enjoy a hearty farm-to-table breakfast at the annual community fair this Saturday." (Example from a local news section of a newspaper like The Daily Nation)
Online Publications:
"Why Intermittent Fasting Might Be the Key to Your Weight Loss Goals: Should you skip breakfast?" (Headline from a health and wellness blog like Healthline or Medical News Today)
"Top 10 Nairobi Breakfast Spots You Must Try Before You Die." (Article title from a travel or food blog focused on Nairobi, e.g., EatOut Kenya)
"Our guide to making the perfect weekend breakfast spread, featuring recipes for fluffy pancakes and crispy bacon." (Article on a food website like Bon Appétit or Serious Eats)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Show (Dialogue): "Don't forget your breakfast, dear! You've got a big day ahead." (Common line in a family sitcom, e.g., Modern Family or The Simpsons)
Film (Dialogue): "He never misses his breakfast at Tiffany's." (A clear reference to the title of the film Breakfast at Tiffany's)
Song Lyrics: "Just give me breakfast in America, see America and buy a car." (From the Supertramp song "Breakfast in America")
Podcast (Discussion): "Today on the podcast, we're dissecting the cultural significance of the English breakfast and its global variations." (From a food history or culture podcast)
Video Game (In-game text/dialogue): "You wake up feeling refreshed. Time to head to the mess hall for breakfast." (Text from a role-playing game or simulation game)
General Public Discourse:
"What's for breakfast?" (Common question asked by family members in the morning)
"I usually just grab a quick breakfast on the go, like a granola bar." (Everyday conversation about morning routine)
"We had a lovely breakfast together this morning, just catching up." (Casual remark about a shared meal)
"You know, they say breakfast is the most important meal of the day." (Common idiom/proverb in conversation)
10 Famous Quotes Using Breakfast
"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day." (Often attributed to various health and nutrition experts, and a common saying)
"Eat a good breakfast, a moderate lunch, and a light dinner." (Proverbial advice, often attributed to health maxims)
"I have to have breakfast. I can't start my day without a good breakfast." (Oprah Winfrey)
"We are breakfasting in America, because breakfast is the most democratic meal. Everyone can have it." (Ruth Reichl)
"A man should keep his friendships in constant repair. As a man's life is, so is his breakfast." (Samuel Johnson)
"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt. And a big breakfast helps." (Charles M. Schulz, Peanuts)
"Never work before breakfast; if you have to work before breakfast, eat your breakfast first." (Josh Billings)
"My ideal breakfast is a banana and a strong cup of coffee." (Barack Obama)
"Breakfast is a meal that allows for more freedom and creativity than any other." (From a general culinary or food philosophy perspective)
"I get up every morning and it's going to be a great day. You never know when it's going to be your last, so I get breakfast, and I don't take anything for granted." (Unknown, a common sentiment in public discourse)
Etymology
The word "breakfast" is quite literally what it sounds like: it's the meal that breaks your fast.
Here's a breakdown:
"Break": This part comes from the Old English word "brecan," meaning "to divide" or "to stop."
"Fast": This refers to a period of time when you haven't eaten any food. When you sleep through the night, you are naturally "fasting" for several hours.
So, the word "breakfast" describes the act of ending the period of not eating that you've been doing since you went to sleep the night before.
The first known use of "breakfast" as we understand it today, referring to the morning meal, appeared in written English around the 15th century (specifically around 1463). Before that, people had other names for the morning meal, such as "morgenmete" (Old English for "morning meal"). While people have always eaten a first meal after waking up, the specific term "breakfast" caught on because it so accurately describes the basic function of that meal.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Breakfast
Breakfast in bed: A meal served to someone while they are still in bed.
Breakfast of champions: A phrase used to describe a hearty or substantial breakfast, often humorously applied to something less healthy or unusual.
To make a dog's breakfast of something: To make a complete mess or botch of something.
To have someone for breakfast: To easily defeat or dominate someone.
Breakfast meeting: A business or formal meeting held over breakfast.
Continental breakfast: A light breakfast typically consisting of pastries, fruit, coffee, and juice.
Full English breakfast: A traditional, hearty English breakfast including items like eggs, bacon, sausage, beans, and toast.
To break bread (with someone): To share a meal with someone; often used to signify companionship or reconciliation (using "bread" as a synonym for a meal).
Morning fuel: A general term for any food eaten in the morning to provide energy for the day (a synonymous phrase).
The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese for breakfast: A playful twist on a common idiom, implying that strategic timing can be more beneficial.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of breakfast from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
