meal
meal
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "meal" is /miːl/.
/miːl/
Word Form Variations
Noun: meal (singular), meals (plural)
Adjective: meal (used attributively, e.g., "meal prep," "meal time")
Verb: (No direct verb form in common use for the "food" sense. Related archaic/dialectal uses might exist, but not standard. "Meal" as in grinding grain is a different word with a different etymology).
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: Any of the regular occasions in a day when a quantity of food is eaten, such as breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Synonyms: repast (formal/archaic), feast (large meal), spread (elaborate meal), sustenance, refreshment
Antonyms: fast, starvation, hunger, abstinence
Definition 2: The food eaten at one of these regular occasions.
Synonyms: dish, food, fare, provisions, victuals (archaic), grub (informal)
Antonyms: leftovers (specifically part of a meal), waste (food not eaten)
Definition 3: (Figurative) An experience or situation that is likened to food, often in a negative sense.
Example usage: "To make a meal of it" (to exaggerate or make something more difficult than it is).
Synonyms: ordeal, struggle, challenge, burden
Antonyms: simplicity, ease, convenience, triviality
Adjective
Definition 1: Of or relating to a meal or its preparation/consumption. (Used attributively)
Synonyms: culinary, food-related, dining, gastronomic
Antonyms: non-food, unrelated to eating, unrelated to dining
Examples of Use
Books:
"The humble meal of bread and cheese tasted like a feast after days of hunger in the wilderness." (Fictional example from a survival or adventure novel)
"The author meticulously documented the traditional preparation of a celebratory Kikuyu meal, highlighting its cultural significance." (From a non-fiction book on Kenyan culture or cuisine)
"He made a whole meal of the simple task, complaining endlessly about its difficulty." (Fictional example, idiomatic use, from a character-driven novel)
Newspapers:
"The government launched a school feeding program to provide a nutritious meal to every primary school child." ("Daily Nation,")
"Restaurants in downtown Nairobi are offering special three-course meals to attract customers during the holiday season." ("The Standard,")
"Rising food prices mean that a simple family meal now costs significantly more than a year ago." ("Business Daily Africa,")
Online Publications:
"Easy weeknight meal prep ideas for busy families." (An article on a cooking or lifestyle blog, e.g., "Minimalist Baker,")
"Our comprehensive guide to healthy pet meals: What to feed your dog for optimal health." (An article on a pet care website, e.g., "PetMD,")
"The charity aims to provide a warm meal to every homeless person in the city this winter." (A news update on a humanitarian aid website, e.g., Doctors Without Borders)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "I love a good meal after a long day of fighting crime." (Dialogue from a superhero film)
Television Series: "For your final challenge, you must prepare a five-star meal using only ingredients from this mystery basket." (Instructions on a cooking competition show, e.g., MasterChef)
Song Lyrics: "Every meal we shared, every silent prayer, lingers in my memory." (From a sentimental ballad about shared experiences)
Video Games: "Consuming this hearty meal will restore your health and stamina." (In-game item description or notification, e.g., The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild)
Podcasts: "This episode, we explore the history of the communal meal and its role in human society." (A podcast on history or sociology, e.g., Gastropod)
General Public Discourse:
"What time are we having our next meal?" (A common question among friends or family)
"That was a delicious meal, thank you for cooking!" (A compliment to a cook)
"I usually have a light meal for lunch and a heavier one for dinner." (A statement about eating habits)
"He's always complaining and making a meal of everything." (An informal complaint about someone exaggerating)
"The restaurant offers a kids' meal with a toy." (Referring to a menu item)
10 Quotes Using Meal
"A man may be a pessimistic determinist before lunch and an optimistic believer in the will's freedom after it, but it is difficult to see how he can be both between the soup and the fish of the same meal." – George Santayana
"A good meal makes a man feel more charitable toward the world than any sermon." – Arthur Pendenys
"The shared meal elevates eating from a mechanical process of fueling the body to a ritual of family and community." – Michael Pollan
"After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one's own relations." – Oscar Wilde
"A good meal ought to begin with hunger." – French proverb
"You don’t need a silver fork to eat a good meal." – Paul Prudhomme
"There is no sincerer love than the love of food. Every meal should be a celebration." – George Bernard Shaw
"A meal becomes good by starting with quality ingredients and a generous heart." – Alice Waters
"The best meals are those made with love and served with laughter." – Anonymous
"Any meal can be an occasion; it’s the company that makes it special." – Nigella Lawson
Etymology
The word "meal" (referring to food) has an old and distinct origin in English.
It comes from the Old English word mæl, which had a few related meanings: "a fixed time or occasion," "an appointed time," or "a regular time for eating."
This Old English word traces back to Proto-Germanic roots, with connections to words that mean "time" or "measure." The idea is that a "meal" was food eaten at a measured or appointed time of day.
The first known use of "meal" in English, with the meaning of "a time for eating," dates back to before the 9th century (Old English period).
The meaning then naturally extended to mean "the food itself" that is eaten at that appointed time. So, first it was the occasion of eating, and then it became the food eaten on that occasion.
(Note: There is a completely separate word "meal" that refers to ground grain, like cornmeal. That word has a different, though also old, Germanic origin related to "grinding.")
Phrases + Idioms Containing Meal
Square meal: A substantial, satisfying, and nutritious meal.
To make a meal of it: To exaggerate the difficulty or importance of something; to take an unnecessarily long time doing something.
Meal ticket: A person or thing that is a source of income or advantage for someone else.
Meal prep: The act of preparing meals or ingredients in advance.
Home-cooked meal: A meal prepared and eaten at home, often implying comfort or wholesomeness.
Light meal: A small or insubstantial meal.
To skip a meal: To miss eating one of the regular meals.
Finger food meal: A meal consisting entirely of items that can be eaten without utensils. (Original phrase)
The last meal: The final meal eaten before an execution; metaphorically, a final, significant meal.
To fall like a ton of bricks: To come down heavily or suddenly. (Synonymous effect for a heavy, satisfying meal landing well)
A spread for kings: A lavish and abundant meal. (Synonym for a "royal meal")
Food for the soul: Something that nourishes one's spirit or mind. (Metaphorical "meal" for well-being)
To break bread: To share a meal with someone, often implying companionship or reconciliation.
Three square meals a day: A common phrase referring to regular, substantial meals.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of meal from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
