1
: an act or the time of eating a portion of food to satisfy appetite
2
: the portion of food eaten at a meal
1
: the usually coarsely ground and unbolted seeds of a cereal grass or pulse
especially
: cornmeal
2
: a product resembling seed meal especially in particle size or texture
-meal
3 of 3adverb combining form
: by a (specified) portion or measure at a time
piecemeal
Examples of meal in a Sentence
Noun (1)
all she wants to do is sit quietly after the large Thanksgiving meal
Recent Examples on the Web
Thania Garcia, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025
Order your Easter meal from the top chefs of Plate Above Catering, whose kitchen helps fund culinary education here in Orlando.
—Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2025
Nor was there much of a budget for players’ equipment and meals, let alone small gestures that Shero insisted were necessary — such as sending flowers to the wife of a player who signed as a free agent.
—Rob Rossi, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
The proper cooking temperature can be the difference between a delicious, homemade meal and a house full of smoke with pizza delivery on the way.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
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Noun
Centrally located in the GA section of Coachella both weekends, the activation will allow festival attendees to lounge while enjoying a meal.
—Cite this Entry
“Meal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meal. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
Kids Definition
meal
1 of 2 noun1
: the food eaten or prepared for eating at one time
2
: the act or time of eating a meal
meal
2 of 2 noun1
: ground seeds of a cereal grass
especially
: cornmeal
2
: something like meal especially in texture
Etymology
Noun
Old English mæl "appointed time, meal"
Noun
Old English melu "ground grain"
Medical Definition
meal
noun
: the portion of food taken at one time to satisfy appetite
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