1 meal
Pronounced:
/ˈmi:l/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural mealsMeaning:
[count] 1 : the foods eaten or prepared for eating at one time ▪ He eats/has three full meals a day. ▪ Dad cooked/prepared/made a delicious meal of chicken and potatoes. ▪ The waitress served our meal. ▪ a three-course meal ▪ This soup is a meal in itself. [=all that is needed for a meal] —see also square meal
2 : a time or occasion when food is eaten : the act or time of eating a meal ▪ Breakfast is her favorite meal. ▪ the midday/evening meal ▪ She makes us drink a glass of milk at every meal. ▪ We went to Grandma's for a big holiday meal. ▪ If you want to lose weight, don't eat between meals.
2 : a time or occasion when food is eaten : the act or time of eating a meal ▪ Breakfast is her favorite meal. ▪ the midday/evening meal ▪ She makes us drink a glass of milk at every meal. ▪ We went to Grandma's for a big holiday meal. ▪ If you want to lose weight, don't eat between meals.
make a meal (out) of
1 : to eat (a particular food) as your meal without anything else ▪ This bread is so good, I could make a meal of it.
2 Brit informal : to do (something) in a way that makes it seem more important or difficult than it really is ▪ It's not all that hard, you know! Don't make a meal of it!
2 Brit informal : to do (something) in a way that makes it seem more important or difficult than it really is ▪ It's not all that hard, you know! Don't make a meal of it!
—compare 2meal