meal S2 W2 / mil / 名词

1 [可数名词] an occasion when you eat food, for example breakfast or dinner, or the food that you eat on that occasion :

We must have a meal together some time.

Dinner is the main meal of the day for most people.

2 [不可数名词] grain that has been crushed into a powder, for making flour or animal food → bonemeal

3 make a meal (out) of something British English informal to spend too much time or effort doing something :

He made a real meal out of parking the car.

COLLOCATIONS

动词

have a meal (= eat a meal ) We usually have our evening meal fairly early.

eat a meal When they had eaten their meal, they went out for a walk.

cook/make a meal ( also prepare a meal formal ) Who cooks most of the meals?

serve a meal The bar serves snacks and meals.

fix a meal informal especially American English (= make a meal )

go (out) for a meal How about going out for a meal tonight?

take somebody (out) for a meal He took Anna out for a meal and then to the theatre.

ADJECTIVES/NOUN + meal

an evening/midday meal The evening meal is served at 7.30.

the main meal They had their main meal at lunch time.

a three-course/five-course etc meal (= a meal with several separate parts ) a three-course meal, including appetizer and dessert

a good meal (= a meal that is large enough and tastes good ) We’ll get a good meal there.

a decent meal/a square meal ( also a proper meal British English ) (= with enough good food to satisfy you ) I hadn’t had a decent meal in days.

a big/large meal We don’t have a big meal at lunchtime, usually just sandwiches.

a hot meal With a hot meal inside me, I began to feel better.

a delicious meal ‘It was a delicious meal,’ Merrill said politely.

a heavy meal (= with a lot of rich food ) A heavy meal is likely to make you feel sleepy.

a light meal (= with not a lot of food ) a light meal of salad

a simple meal a simple meal of soup and bread

a balanced meal (= with some of each type of food, to keep you healthy ) We make healthy, balanced meals for our children.

a gourmet meal (= one with very nice and often complicated food ) The day ended with a gourmet meal in a good restaurant.

a slap-up meal British English informal (= a good meal ) Jennie cooked us a slap-up meal.

a full meal (= a complete meal ) I’m not hungry enough to eat a full meal.

a healthy meal Healthy meals can still be quick and easy to prepare.

a school meal (= provided by a school ) Many of the children are receiving free school meals.

regular meals (= ones that are eaten at the same time each day ) Patients are advised to eat regular meals.

COMMON ERRORS

► Do not say ’take a meal’ . Say have a meal .

THESAURUS

types of meal

breakfast a meal that you eat in the morning

brunch a meal that you eat in the late morning, instead of breakfast or lunch

lunch a meal that you eat in the middle of the day

tea British English a meal that you eat in the afternoon or evening

dinner the main meal of the day, which most people eat in the evening

supper a small meal that you eat in the evening, in British English; the main meal that you eat in the evening, in American English

picnic a meal that you eat outdoors, consisting of food that you cooked or prepared earlier

barbecue a meal that you cook outdoors over hot coals or wood and eat outdoors

snack a small amount of food that is eaten between main meals or instead of a meal

side dish food eaten with the main course, such as vegetables : I’ll have the salad as a side dish.

course one of the separate parts of a meal, such as the starter or the dessert : a three-course meal

parts of a large meal

hors d’oeuvre ( also starter British English , appetizer American English ) the small first part of a meal : a tempting plate of hors d’oeuvres including olives and small pieces of roast beetroot

main course ( also entrée especially American English ) the main part of a meal. entrée is used especially on restaurant menu s : For the main course we had cheese and onion pie. | The menu includes a few hot entrées.

dessert ( also pudding British English or sweet British English ) sweet food eaten at the end of a meal : What do you want for dessert? | They serve a wide range of desserts, including ice cream and home-made apple pie.