consume

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consume

/kənˈsjuːm/ UK
/kənˈʃuːm/ UK
/kənˈsum/ US
/kənˈsjʉːm/ Australia
/kənˈs(j)uːm/ Canada
[kənˈs(j)ʉːm] Canada
/kənˈsɪʊm/

Rhymes with -uːm

Where it comes from

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *ḱe?

Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm

Proto-Italic *kom

Proto-Italic *kom-

Latin con-

Proto-Indo-European *upó

Proto-Italic *supo

Latin sub

Latin sub-

Proto-Indo-European *h₁em-

Proto-Indo-European *-eti

Proto-Indo-European *h₁émeti

Proto-Italic *emō

Latin emō

Latin sūmō

Latin cōnsūmōder.

Old French consumerbor.

Middle English consumen

English consume

From Middle English consumen, from Old French consumer, from Latin cōnsūmere, cōnsūmō, from con- (“with, together”) + sūmō (“take; consume”), from sub- + emō (“to buy, take”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁em- (“to take, distribute”), possibly related to the root *nem- (“to take or give one's due”).

verb consumes · consuming · consumed

transitive To use up. The power plant consumes 30 tons of coal per hour.
transitive To eat. Baby birds consume their own weight in food each day.
transitive To completely occupy the thoughts or attention of. Desire consumed him.
transitive To destroy completely. The building was consumed by fire.
intransitive, obsolete To waste away slowly. Therefore, let Benedick, like cover'd fire, / Consume away in sighs.
intransitive, transitive To obtain and use goods or services as an individual. In a materialistic society, individuals are taught to consume, consume, consume.
transitive To absorb information, especially through the mass media. The Internet has changed the way we consume news.

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