noun

consumption

kuhn-SUMP-shuhn/kənˈsʌmpʃn/

The taking in or using up of a resource.

The water meter tracks the household's daily consumption of water.

A home's water meter and a filled kettle illustrate measurable use of a resource, no unreadable tiny numbers.

Etymology

conLatintogether; perhaps adds emphasis

+sumptLatinto take

+ionLatinaction or state

The root means “take,” with a prefix that may be intensive here. The resulting Latin verb meant “use up, eat, waste,” giving consumption its sense of resources depleted through use.

In context

Shankar IAS Academy60:46

we mean by ecological footprint simply we can say that it refers to the amount of biologically productive land and water that is required to produce all resources for the consumption

Target - UPSC Prelims 2020 Series || Current Affairs || July 2019 || 50 Important Topics ||

More examples

Driving at a steady speed can reduce fuel consumption.
The doctor recommends limiting consumption of sugary drinks.
Electricity consumption rises when everyone runs the air conditioning.

Forms

consume verb — To take in or use up.

consumer noun — A person who buys or uses goods.

Similar words

use: Use need not imply that a resource is depleted.
intake: Intake emphasizes what enters the body, especially food or drink.
expenditure: Expenditure emphasizes amounts spent, especially money, time, or energy.