verb
/ˈiːt/ eats; ate /ˈeɪt, Brit ˈɛt, ˈeɪt/; eaten /ˈiːtn̩/; eating
to take food into your mouth and swallow it [+ obj]
To eat out is to dine at a restaurant rather than at home.
To eat in is to dine at home.
to gradually destroy, use, or take away something :to wear something away [+ obj]
usually + away
usually + into, away at, or at
[+ obj] informal :to bother or annoy (someone)
synonyms eat, consume, and devour mean to chew and swallow food. eat is a general word that can apply to any manner of taking in food.
be eating out of someone's hand
to be completely controlled by someone
eat a horse
eat crow
US or eat humble pie
informal :to admit that you were wrong or accept that you have been defeated
eat light
eat (someone or something) alive
of insects :to bite (someone or something) many times
to badly defeat or harm someone or something
eat someone's or something's lunch
eat up
[phrasal verb]
used to tell someone to start or continue eating
eat up (something) or eat (something) up
to eat all of (something)
to use up (time, resources, etc.)
A person who is eaten up with or by jealousy, bitterness, etc., cannot escape that feeling and is made unhappy by it.
eat (something) up informal :to enjoy (something) greatly
eat up the clock
eat your fill
eat your heart out
to be jealous
eat your words
to take back what you have said :to admit that you were wrong about something
have your cake and eat it too
or have your cake and eat it
I'll eat my hat
informal + old-fashioned - used to say that something will not happen or cannot be true
the proof of the pudding is in the eating