consume

[ kuhn-soom ]
/ kənˈsum /

verb (used with object), con·sumed, con·sum·ing.

verb (used without object), con·sumed, con·sum·ing.

to undergo destruction; waste away.
to use or use up consumer goods.

Origin of consume

1350–1400; Middle English (< Middle French consumer) < Latin consūmere, equivalent to con- con- + sūmere to take up (perhaps < *suzm- < *subzm- < *subs-(e)m-, equivalent to subs-, variant of sub- sub- + emere to take, buy)

OTHER WORDS FROM consume

Example sentences from the Web for consume

British Dictionary definitions for consume

consume
/ (kənˈsjuːm) /

verb

(tr) to eat or drink
(tr; often passive) to engross or obsess
(tr) to use up; expend my car consumes little oil
to destroy or be destroyed by burning, decomposition, etc fire consumed the forest
(tr) to waste or squander the time consumed on that project was excessive
(passive) to waste away

Derived forms of consume

consuming, adjective consumingly, adverb

Word Origin for consume

C14: from Latin consūmere to devour, from com- (intensive) + sūmere to take up, from emere to take, purchase