- food
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—foodless, adj. —foodlessness, n./foohd/, n.1. any nourishing substance that is eaten, drunk, or otherwise taken into the body to sustain life, provide energy, promote growth, etc.2. more or less solid nourishment, as distinguished from liquids.3. a particular kind of solid nourishment: a breakfast food; dog food.4. whatever supplies nourishment to organisms: plant food.5. anything serving for consumption or use: food for thought.[bef. 1000; ME fode, OE foda; cf. OE fedan, Goth fodjan to FEED; cf. FODDER1, FOSTER]Syn. 1. nutriment, aliment, bread, sustenance, victuals; meat, viands; diet, menu. FOOD, FARE, PROVISIONS, RATION(S) all refer to nutriment. FOOD is the general word: Breakfast foods have become very popular. Many animals prefer grass as food. FARE refers to the whole range of foods that may nourish a person or animal: an extensive bill of fare; The fare of some animals is limited in range. PROVISIONS is applied to a store or stock of necessary things, esp. food, prepared beforehand: provisions for a journey. RATION implies an allotment or allowance of provisions: a daily ration for each man of a company. RATIONS often means food in general: to be on short rations.
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material consisting essentially of protein, carbohydrate, and fat used in the body of an organism to sustain growth, repair, and vital processes and to furnish energy.Food is treated in a number of articles. For a description of the processes of absorption and utilization of food, see nutrition; nutrition, human; digestion; and digestive system, human. For information on the methods used to prepare raw foods for cooking, consumption, or storage, see food preservation.* * *
Universalium. 2010.