noun

meal

MEEL/miːl/

An occasion when food is eaten.

The plate of chicken, rice, and vegetables forms a complete meal.

A single place setting with a complete, ready-to-eat dinner: roasted chicken, rice, and green vegetables on one plate, with a fork and a glass of water.

Etymology

mealOld Englishfixed time, occasion; meal

Old English mæl could mean a fixed time or occasion as well as a meal. The connection is an appointed eating occasion and the food taken at that time.

In context

ESL Lounge3:00

At the end of their meal, customers are invited to pay what they feel the food was worth

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More examples

They shared a meal after the journey.
She prepares three meals a day.
He missed the evening meal.

Forms

meal · meals

mealtime noun — The time when a meal is eaten.

Similar words

dinner: One particular meal, often the main one.
repast: A formal or literary term for a meal.