meal

Everyday

1. A meal is the food you eat at one time, such as breakfast, lunch or dinner. tree →
2. A meal is also the time when you eat this food. tree →
3. Meal (uncountable) is grain ground into a rough powder, like oatmeal or cornmeal. tree →

In the lessons

In health lessons eating regular, balanced meals (with vegetables, fruit, grains and protein) gives energy all day. In everyday life families share meals; names for meals differ: lunch or dinner at midday, dinner, tea or supper in the evening. In maths problems meals are counted: three meals a day for a week is 21 meals. Phrases: have a meal, a big meal, a hot meal, meal time, ready meal, make a meal of something (make it take too long).

Examples

• Breakfast is the first meal of the day. tree →
• We had a lovely meal at Grandma's house. tree →
• Wash your hands before every meal. tree →
• Try to eat vegetables with every meal. tree →
• Three meals a day for a week makes twenty-one meals. tree →
• Dinner is my favourite meal. tree →
• We cooked a meal for the family together. tree →
• Don't eat lots of snacks just before a meal. tree →
• Iktomi had no regular meal times. tree →

Note

Countable: a meal, meals. A snack is a small amount of food between meals, not a meal. Cornmeal and oatmeal are foods made from ground grain. «Make a meal of something» means take too long or make too much fuss.

In Jewish tradition

A meal-offering was made of fine flour, oil and frankincense, brought to the priest. Part of it was burned on the altar, and the rest was eaten by the priests.

Interpretation. Tradition says this offering was often brought by the poor, and God counts it as precious as an animal. It shows that even the smallest gift matters.

Examples

• Thou shalt break it in pieces, and pour oil thereon; it is a meal-offering. (Torah LEV.2.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• And thou shalt put oil upon it, and lay frankincense thereon; it is a meal-offering. (Torah LEV.2.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• And every meal-offering of the priest shall be wholly made to smoke; it shall not be eaten. (Torah LEV.6.23, JPS 1917) tree →
• I have not burdened thee with a meal-offering, nor wearied thee with frankincense. (Prophets ISA.43.23, JPS 1917) tree →
• Receive the memorial of all thy meal-offerings, and accept the fat of thy burnt-sacrifice; Selah (Writings PSA.20.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal; (Prophets 1KI.5.2, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: a meal, meals. A snack is a small amount of food between meals, not a meal. Cornmeal and oatmeal are foods made from ground grain. «Make a meal of something» means take too long or make too much fuss.