Definition of "meal" in İngilizce

noun

1. (countable) Food that is prepared and eaten, usually at a specific time, and usually in a comparatively large quantity (as opposed to a snack).

   • Breakfast is the morning meal, lunch is the noon meal, and dinner, or supper, is the evening meal.
   • c1450, Secreta Secretorumː He that will cast meal upon meal is not able to have (a) long life.
   • c1500, The King and the Hermitː I have been there and taken deal / And have had many (a) merry meal.
   • 1535?, Dyfference Astronː But above all things beware that thou eat not till thou feel thy stomach empty and that it hath made good digestion of the first meal.
   • 1569, Fenton, Wondersː Besides he was so fantastical and unruly in his appetites, that he used no common meats at his meals, but was fed with the combs of cocks, the tongues of peahens.
   • 1640, Richard Brathwait, Ar't asleep Husband? A BOULSTER LECTURE, Stored with all variety of witty Jests, merry Tales, and other pleasant passages; extracted from the choycest Flowers of Phi∣losophy, Poesy, ancient and moderne Historyː Give me but so many meals, and thou shalt find me one of the strongest Turkish males that ever English gennet bore.
   • 1796, Robert Bage, Hermsprong: or, Man As He Is Notː This letter was written whilst my hostess of the George was preparing the last meal I ever was to eat.
   • 1835, Edgar Allan Poe, The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaallː Puss, who seemed in a great measure recovered from her illness, now made a hearty meal of the dead bird, and then went to sleep with much apparent satisfaction.
   • 2016, Melissa Clark, Consider This Permission to Eat Burrata for Dinner in The New York Timesː In this recipe, I go even further, adding a robust salad to turn a lone cheese into a satisfying summer meal.

2. (countable) Food served or eaten as a repast.

   • a1450, The Macro Playsː If thou wilt fare well at meat and meal, come and follow me.

3. (uncountable, informal) A break taken by a police officer in order to eat.

4. (countable, obsolete) A time or an occasion.

   • Ye wolde wepe at every mele; But for my sone wepe ye never a dele. You would weep at every meal, but for my son you never weep a deal.
   • […] by occasion whereoff thai woll than at every mele groche with the kinge […] […] by occasion whereof they will, then at every meal, grouch with the king […]
   • a1450, Henry Lovelich, The History of the Holy Grailː Which was to them a sorry meal.
   • a1450, Henry Lovelich, Merlinː Also soon as the dragons together feal, betwixt them shall begin a sorry meal.
   • a1450, The York Playsː What mean ye.. to make mourning at ilk a meal?