munch

Everyday

1. To munch is to chew food steadily and noisily, often with enjoyment: munch an apple, munch on crisps. tree →
2. (slang) «The munchies» means feeling very hungry for snacks: «I've got the munchies.» tree →
3. (informal) A munch is a snack or a meal: «Let's grab some munch.» tree →
4. (a name) Edvard Munch was a Norwegian painter, famous for the painting «The Scream». tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life and stories «munch» is a sound-and-action word that shows eating with enjoyment and noise: «The caterpillar munched through the leaves» (as in «The Very Hungry Caterpillar»). It is a good, vivid verb for creative writing instead of «ate». In art lessons pupils copy Munch's «The Scream» to show strong feelings. Phrases: munch on, munch away, munch through, the munchies.

Examples

• The caterpillar munched through five oranges. tree →
• We munched popcorn during the film. tree →
• The horse munched happily on the hay. tree →
• (informal) She munched away on a carrot while she read. tree →
• (slang) I always get the munchies after swimming. tree →
• The rabbit munched the lettuce in seconds. tree →
• Stop munching so loudly! tree →
• In art we painted our own version of Munch's «The Scream». tree →
• The youth departed, weeping, and met the little hare, who was munching wild thyme. tree →

Note

Verb forms: munch, munches (add -es), munched, munching. Often with «on» or «through»: «munch on an apple», «munch through a bag of crisps». The painter's name is pronounced «moonk», not like the verb. «The munchies» is informal slang; in an essay write «very hungry».