eat

Definitions

1. verb

   To put food in your mouth and swallow it.

   Examples

   • He is eating an apple.
   • Don't disturb me, I'm eating.
   ≈consume≈swallow
2. verb

   To have a meal.

   Examples

   • What time do we eat this evening?
   • I eat in the kitchen.
   ≈dine≈chow down≈feed one's face
3. verb

   To be good or bad to eat.

   Examples

   • It's a soup that eats like a meal.
   • This bread eats well with a little butter.
4. verb

   To follow a certain kind of diet.

   Examples

   • She has been trying to eat healthy since the new year.
   • They eat well in that house.
5. verb

   To use up or destroy something.

   Examples

   • This project is eating up all the money.
   • That hobby eats all his savings.
6. verb

   In programming, to catch an event so other code never sees it.

   Examples

   • If you catch an error and eat it, you may hide bugs.
   • The listener ate the click before it reached the button.
7. verb

   To damage or trap something put into a machine.

   Examples

   • The video player ate the tape and won't give it back.
   • John is late because the copier ate his report.
8. verb

   To take money put in a machine without giving anything back.

   Examples

   • The arcade game ate my coin.
   • This vending machine ate my dollar.
9. verb

   To make someone worry.

   Examples

   • What's eating you?
   • Something is clearly eating him today.
   ≈bother≈disturb≈worry
10. verb

    To accept a loss of money.

    Examples

    • If he doesn't show up, I have to eat the cost.
    • The store had to eat the cost of the returned goods.