Eats
/iːts/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo consume food by putting it in the mouth and chewing and swallowing it.
/iːts/
To take food into the mouth and chew and swallow it.
He eats his dinner quickly.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're really hungry, and you grab a burger and start chewing and swallowing it. That's eating! You enjoy the taste, and your tummy gets full. Think about what you eat every day: toast, cereal, pizza… all of these are types of things you eat.
👶 For kids: When you put food in your mouth and chew it to make it go down to your tummy, that's eating!
More Examples
The lion eats its prey.
She eats only healthy food.
How It's Used
"She eats breakfast every morning."
"A balanced diet means eating a variety of foods."
To gradually destroy or damage something.
/iːts/
To cause damage or deterioration.
Rust eats away at the metal over time.
💡 Simply: Imagine a leaky faucet that slowly *eats* away at the wood on your cabinet. Or a bad grade that *eats* away at your confidence. In other words, it's slowly damaging or wearing something down.
👶 For kids: Like when something is slowly being broken down, like rust eating a car.
More Examples
Stress eats away at her peace of mind.
The floodwaters ate into the foundations of the building.
How It's Used
"The acid eats away at the metal."
"Worry eats away at him."
From Old English 'etan', from Proto-Germanic *etaną. Related to German 'essen' and Dutch 'eten'.
The word 'eats' has been a fundamental part of the English language since its Old English origins, primarily used to describe the act of consuming food.
Memory tip
Imagine 'eat' as the act of bringing food to your mouth and enjoying it.
Word Origin
"to eat, consume"