consume

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to engage fully

   The effort to pass the exam consumed all our energy.

2. 2
   verb

   to use up resources or materials

   My new car consumes a lot of gas.

3. 3
   verb

   to eat immoderately

   I consumed the ten-course meal eagerly.

4. 4
   verb

   to destroy completely

   The fire consumed the building

5. 5
   verb

   To use up.

   The power plant consumes 30 tons of coal per hour.

6. 6
   verb

   To eat.

   Baby birds consume their own weight in food each day.

7. 7
   verb

   To completely occupy the thoughts or attention of.

   Desire consumed him.

8. 8
   verb

   To destroy completely.

   The building was consumed by fire.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Latin con- Proto-Indo-European *upó Proto-Italic *supo Latin sub Latin sub- Proto-Indo-European *nem-? Proto-Indo-European *h₁em-der. Proto-Italic *emō Latin emō Latin sūmō Latin cōnsūmōder. Old French consumerbor. Middle English consumen English consume 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”),…