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consume

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To consume is to use something up, destroy something or eat something.

(verb)

An example of consume is when people use up all the world's oil.
An example of consume is when you eat a hamburger.

See consume in Webster's New World College Dictionary

to destroy, as by fire; do away with
1. to use up
2. to spend wastefully; squander (time, energy, money, etc.)
to eat or drink up; devour
to absorb completely; engross or obsess: consumed with envy, a consuming interest
to buy for one's personal needs

Origin: ME consumen < OFr consumer < L consumere, to use up, eat, waste < com-, together + sumere, to take < sub-, under + emere, to buy, take: see redeem

intransitive verb

Now Rare to waste away; perish
to buy consumer goods or services for one's personal needs

Related Forms:

consumable adjective

See consume in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb con·sumed, con·sum·ing, con·sumes

verb, transitive

To take in as food; eat or drink up. See Synonyms at eat.
a. To expend; use up: engines that consume less fuel; a project that consumed most of my time and energy.
b. To purchase (goods or services) for direct use or ownership.
To waste; squander. See Synonyms at waste.
To destroy totally; ravage: flames that consumed the house; a body consumed by cancer.
To absorb; engross: consumed with jealousy. See Synonyms at monopolize.