consume

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See also: consumé

English

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Etymology

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From Middle English consumen, from Old French consumer, from Latin cōnsūmere, cōnsūmō, from con- (“with, together”) +‎ sūmō (“take; consume”), from sub- +‎ emō (“to buy, take”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁em- (“to take, distribute”), possibly related to the root *nem- (“to take or give one's due”).

Pronunciation

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Verb

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consume (third-person singular simple present consumes, present participle consuming, simple past and past participle consumed)

  1. (transitive) To use up.
    The power plant consumes 30 tons of coal per hour.
  2. (transitive) To eat.
    Baby birds consume their own weight in food each day.
    • 2017, BioWare, Mass Effect: Andromeda (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Andromeda Wildlife: Overview Codex entry:
      Concerns were raised around the ability of Milky Way species to consume proteins from Andromeda, so seed banks formed a significant part of the arks' cargo. We now know it is safe to consume food grown or hunted here, though enzyme supplements are recommended and have become a social norm at mealtimes.
  3. (transitive) To completely occupy the thoughts or attention of.
    Desire consumed him.
  4. (transitive) To destroy completely.
    The building was consumed by fire.
  5. (intransitive, obsolete) To waste away slowly.
    • 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
      Therefore, let Benedick, like cover'd fire, / Consume away in sighs.
    • 1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter CDXLI”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson;  […], →OCLC:
      But, sir, you see how weak I am. You must see that I have been consuming from day to day […] .
    • 1899, Kate Chopin, The Awakening:
      He assured her the child was consuming at that moment in the next room.
  6. (economics, transitive, intransitive) To trade money for good or services as an individual.
    In a materialistic society, individuals are taught to consume, consume, consume.
    If you consume this product while in Japan, you may be subject to consumption tax.
  7. (transitive) To absorb information, especially through the mass media.
    The Internet has changed the way we consume news.

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

Anagrams

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French

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Pronunciation

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Verb

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consume

  1. inflection of consumer:
    1. first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive
    2. second-person singular imperative

Anagrams

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Galician

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Verb

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consume

  1. second-person singular imperative of consumir

Latin

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Verb

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cōnsūme

  1. second-person singular present active imperative of cōnsūmō

Portuguese

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Verb

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consume

  1. inflection of consumar:
    1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
    2. third-person singular imperative

Spanish

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Verb

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consume

  1. inflection of consumir:
    1. third-person singular present indicative
    2. second-person singular imperative

Verb

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consume

  1. inflection of consumar:
    1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
    2. third-person singular imperative
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