verb
imbibe
im-BYBE/ɪmˈbaɪb/
To take liquid into the body by drinking.
Guests imbibe wine as they enjoy dinner on the patio.
Etymology
The pieces mean “drink in,” joining drinking with the idea of taking liquid inward. English first used the word for soaking or saturating, then for drinking a liquid.
In context
when the aphids or mites feed on the plant juices they'll imbibe the insecticide and die eventually
More examples
- He slowly imbibes a cup of tea after lunch.
- I rarely imbibe, even when everyone else orders cocktails.
- They imbibed too much punch and needed a ride home.
Forms
imbibe · imbibes · imbibed · imbibing