eat
♦♦ eat /'iːt/ (eats eating ate eaten)
1 [VERB] V n, V
When you eat something, you put it into your mouth, chew it, and swallow it.
She was eating a sandwich...
We took our time and ate slowly.
2 [VERB] V adv
If you eat sensibly or healthily, you eat food that is good for you.
...a campaign to persuade people to eat more healthily.
3 [VERB] V, V n
If you eat, you have a meal.
Let's go out to eat...
We ate lunch together a few times.
4 [VERB] only cont, V n
If something is eating you, it is annoying or worrying you. (INFORMAL)
`What the hell's eating you?' he demanded.
5 [PHRASE] V and N inflect
If you have someone eating out of your hand, they are completely under your control.
She usually has the press eating out of her hand.
6
to have your cake and eat it: see cake
dog eat dog: see dog
to eat humble pie: see humbleeat away
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V P at n
If one thing eats away another or eats away at another, it gradually destroys or uses it up.
Rot is eating away the interior of the house...
The recession is eating away at their revenues.eat into
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If something eats into your time or your resources, it uses them, when they should be used for other things.
Responsibilities at home and work eat into his time...
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If a substance such as acid or rust eats into something, it destroys or damages its surface.
Ulcers occur when the stomach's natural acids eat into the lining of the stomach.eat up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
When you eat up your food, you eat all of it.
Eat up your lunch...
Some seed fell along the footpath, and the birds came and ate it up.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If something eats up money, time, or resources, it uses them or consumes them in great quantities.
Health insurance costs are eating up his income.
1 [VERB] V n, V
When you eat something, you put it into your mouth, chew it, and swallow it.
She was eating a sandwich...
We took our time and ate slowly.
2 [VERB] V adv
If you eat sensibly or healthily, you eat food that is good for you.
...a campaign to persuade people to eat more healthily.
3 [VERB] V, V n
If you eat, you have a meal.
Let's go out to eat...
We ate lunch together a few times.
4 [VERB] only cont, V n
If something is eating you, it is annoying or worrying you. (INFORMAL)
`What the hell's eating you?' he demanded.
5 [PHRASE] V and N inflect
If you have someone eating out of your hand, they are completely under your control.
She usually has the press eating out of her hand.
6
to have your cake and eat it: see cake
dog eat dog: see dog
to eat humble pie: see humbleeat away
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V P at n
If one thing eats away another or eats away at another, it gradually destroys or uses it up.
Rot is eating away the interior of the house...
The recession is eating away at their revenues.eat into
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If something eats into your time or your resources, it uses them, when they should be used for other things.
Responsibilities at home and work eat into his time...
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If a substance such as acid or rust eats into something, it destroys or damages its surface.
Ulcers occur when the stomach's natural acids eat into the lining of the stomach.eat up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
When you eat up your food, you eat all of it.
Eat up your lunch...
Some seed fell along the footpath, and the birds came and ate it up.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If something eats up money, time, or resources, it uses them or consumes them in great quantities.
Health insurance costs are eating up his income.