perishable

Everyday

1. Perishable food goes bad or rotten quickly, like milk, meat and fruit. tree →
2. (noun, plural) Perishables are foods or goods that go off quickly. tree →
3. Something that can decay or die is perishable, and does not last for ever, like living bodies. tree →

In the lessons

In science and food safety lessons it tells pupils to keep such food in the fridge and check the use-by date. In everyday life shops and lunch boxes keep perishables cool. Phrases: perishable food, perishable goods, keep perishables chilled.

Examples

• Milk is perishable, so keep it in the fridge. tree →
• Perishable food needs a cool place. tree →
• Tinned beans are not perishable. tree →
• The lorry carried perishable goods. tree →
• Put the perishables in the cool bag. tree →
• Strawberries are very perishable. tree →
• Throw away perishable food after its use-by date. tree →

Note

From the verb «perish» (to die or rot). Spelling ends in «-able». Opposite: non-perishable (rice, tins, dried pasta). As a noun it is nearly always plural: perishables.