consume
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /kənˈsjuːm/
ipa: /kənˈʃuːm/
enpr: kən-so͞om
ipa: /kənˈsum/
ipa: /kənˈsjʉːm/
note: Indic
ipa: /kənˈzjum/
ipa: /kənˈs(j)uːm/
ipa: [kənˈs(j)ʉːm]
note: Ottawa Valley
ipa: /kənˈsɪʊm/
rhymes: -uːm
Forms: form: consumes
form: consuming
form: consumed
form: consumed
Etymology: 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”).
Senses: examples: text: The power plant consumes 30 tons of coal per hour.
glosses: To use up.
examples: text: Baby birds consume their own weight in food each day.
text: 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.
ref: 2017, BioWare, Mass Effect: Andromeda (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Andromeda Wildlife: Overview Codex entry:
glosses: To eat.
examples: text: Desire consumed him.
glosses: To completely occupy the thoughts or attention of.
examples: text: The building was consumed by fire.
text: If he were putting to my house the brand / That shall consume it.
ref: c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vi]:
text: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through to steal: […]
ref: 1900, The New Covenant Commonly Called the New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (American Standard Version), New York: Thomas Nelson & Sons, Matthew 6:19–20:
glosses: To destroy completely.
examples: text: Therefore, let Benedick, like cover'd fire, / Consume away in sighs.
ref: 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]:
text: But, sir, you see how weak I am. You must see that I have been consuming from day to day […].
ref: 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:
text: He assured her the child was consuming at that moment in the next room.
ref: 1899, Kate Chopin, The Awakening:
glosses: To waste away slowly.
examples: text: In a materialistic society, individuals are taught to consume, consume, consume.
text: If you consume this product while in Japan, you may be subject to consumption tax.
topics: economics
sciences
glosses: To trade money for good or services as an individual.
examples: text: The Internet has changed the way we consume news.
glosses: To absorb information, especially through the mass media.
Synonyms: sense: use
english: of energy
translation: of energy
word: burn
sense: use
word: use
sense: use
word: use up
sense: use
word: expend
sense: eat
word: devour
sense: eat
word: eat
sense: eat
word: swallow
sense: occupy
word: occupy
sense: occupy
word: overcome
sense: occupy
word: take over
sense: destroy
word: annihilate
sense: destroy
word: destroy
sense: destroy
word: devastate
sense: destroy
word: eliminate
sense: destroy
word: obliterate
sense: destroy
english: of a building
translation: of a building
word: raze
sense: destroy
word: wipe out
Derived terms: all-consuming
consoomer
consumable
consumation
consumeless
consumer
misconsume
overconsume
preconsume
reconsume
unconsumable
underconsume
Related terms: consumption
consumptive