Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Food

Food

,
Noun.
[OE.
fode
, AS.
fōda
; akin to Icel.
fæða
,
fæði
, Sw.
föda
, Dan. & LG.
föde
, OHG.
fatunga
, Gr.
πατεῖστηαι
to eat, and perh. to Skr.
pā
to protect, L.
pascere
to feed, pasture,
pabulum
food, E.
pasture
. √75. Cf.
Feed
,
Fodder
food,
Foster
to cherish.]
1.
What is fed upon; that which goes to support life by being received within, and assimilated by, the organism of an animal or a plant; nutriment; aliment; especially, what is eaten by animals for nourishment.
☞ In a physiological sense, true aliment is to be distinguished as that portion of the food which is capable of being digested and absorbed into the blood, thus furnishing nourishment, in distinction from the indigestible matter which passes out through the alimentary canal as fæces.
☞ Foods are divided into two main groups: nitrogenous, or proteid, foods, i.e., those which contain nitrogen, and nonnitrogenous, i.e., those which do not contain nitrogen. The latter group embraces the fats and carbohydrates, which collectively are sometimes termed heat producers or respiratory foods, since by oxidation in the body they especially subserve the production of heat. The proteids, on the other hand, are known as plastic foods or tissue formers, since no tissue can be formed without them. These latter terms, however, are misleading, since proteid foods may also give rise to heat both directly and indirectly, and the fats and carbohydrates are useful in other ways than in producing heat.
2.
Anything that instructs the intellect, excites the feelings, or molds habits of character; that which nourishes.
This may prove
food
to my displeasure.
Shakespeare
In this moment there is life and
food

For future years.
Wordsworth.
Food is often used adjectively or in self-explaining compounds, as in food fish or food-fish, food supply.
Syn. – Aliment; sustenance; nutriment; feed; fare; victuals; provisions; meat.

Food

,
Verb.
T.
To supply with food.
[Obs.]
Baret.

Webster 1828 Edition


Food

FOOD

,
Noun.
[See Feed.]
1.
In a general sense, whatever is eaten by animals for nourishment, and whatever supplies nutriment to plants.
2.
Meat; aliment; flesh or vegetables eaten for sustaining human life; victuals; provisions; whatever is or may be eaten for nourishment.
Feed me with food convenient for me. Prov. 30.
3.
Whatever supplies nourishment and growth to plants, as water, carbonic acid gas, &c. Manuring substances furnish plants with food.
4.
Something that sustains, nourishes and augments. Flattery is the food of vanity.

FOOD

,
Verb.
T.
To feed. [Not in use.]