meat

plural meats

1. uncountableThe flesh (muscle tissue) of a killed animal used as food.First known use 14th c.

   A large portion of domestic meat production comes from animals raised on factory farms.

   3 more examples

   The homesteading teenager shot a deer to supply his family with wild meat for the winter.

   In many parts of the world, shark meat is an acceptable and desirable form of protein.

   1983, Richard Ellis, The Book of Sharks, Knopf, →ISBN, page 144

   While people who eat no meat at all are identified and identifiable as vegetarians, there is no commonly accepted term for people who eat it only a couple of times a week and are selective about its quality.

   2010 October 19, Andy Atkins, “Debate on meat-eating does not cut the mustard”, in The Guardian

   Synonyms: flesh · Antonyms: drink

2. countableuncountableA food designed to replicate its taste and texture (such as plant-based meat).
3. countableA type of meat, by anatomic position and provenance.First known use 16th c.

   The butchery's profit rate on various meats varies greatly.

   2 more examples

   It should come as no surprise that while the peasants are expected to eat fermented fungi, lab-grown meats and maggot milkshakes, the Controligarchs — with their private chefs — have no intention of doing the same.

   2023, Seamus Bruner, Controligarchs: Exposing the Billionaire Class, Their Secret Deals, and the Globalist Plot to Dominate Your Life

   Regularly eating red and processed meats in particular is associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, according to an analysis of data from 31 study cohorts published Tuesday in the journal The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

   2024 August 20, Madeline Holcombe, “There is a link between the meat you eat and a chronic disease, according to new research”, in CNN

4. archaiccountabledialectaluncountableFood, for animals or humans, especially solid food.First known use 8th c.

   meat and drink

   5 more examples

   I was anhongred, and ye gave me meate. I thursted, and ye gave me drinke.

   1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Matthew

   And he was pleased to accompany them in their death; for, he pined away by abstaining from all manner of meat.

   1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 8, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC, page 232

   Your greatest want is, you want much of meat: / Why should you want? Behold, the Earth hath Rootes[…].

   c. 1605–1608 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

   As full of fun and frolic as an egg is full of meat.

   1879, Silas Hocking, Her Benny

   The way she said ‘dinner’ and the way she said ‘champagne’ gave meat and liquid their exact difference[…].

   1936, Djuna Barnes, Nightwood, Faber & Faber, published 2007, page 13

5. archaiccountableuncountableA type of food, a dish.First known use 9th c.
6. archaiccountableuncountableA meal.First known use 9th c.

   And hit cam to passe, thatt Jesus satt at meate in his housse.

   1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Matthew viij

7. countableobsoleteuncountableMeal; flour.
8. uncountableAny relatively thick, solid part of a fruit, nut etc.First known use 15th c.

   The apple looked fine on the outside, but the meat was not very firm.

   1 more example

   She took her spoon and stirred the melted butter into the yellow meat of the yam.

   1954, Cothburn O'Neal, The Dark Lady, page 12

9. countableslanguncountablevulgarA penis.First known use 16th c.

   He sits me on the floor (the shower is still beating down on us). He lays me down and slides his huge meat into me.

   1993, Nancy Friday, Women on top: how real life has changed women's sexual fantasies, page 538

   2 more examples

   Just the tight, hot caress of his bowels surrounding my meat gave me pleasures I had only dreamed of before that day.

   2006, John Patrick, Play Hard, Score Big, page 54

   Both men were completely, and very actively into this face fucking! Suddenly Bill pulled off of Jim's meat and said,

   2011, Wade Wright, Two Straight Guys, page 41

   Synonyms: anaconda, baloney pony, bald-headed hermit, banana, bird, birdie, bobby, boonga

10. colloquialcountableuncountableThe best or most substantial part of something.First known use 16th c.

    […]it is time to begin "A Dialogue between Viator and Piscator," which is the meat of the matter.

    1577, Gerald Eades Bentley, The Arte of Angling

    1 more example

    The editor called the new "novels" book-lengthers without the trivialities and slow development of the usual novel. "They have all the plot complications, meat and excitement that readers demand," he stated.

    2007, Robert Kenneth Jones, The Shudder Pulps, page 6

    Synonyms: crux, gist, bowels, sum, brass tacks, core, crux, essence

11. countableuncountablehobbiesThe sweet spot of a bat or club (in cricket, golf, baseball etc.).First known use 20th c.

    He hit it right on the meat of the bat.

12. countableslanguncountableA meathead.

    Throw it in here, meat.

13. countableuncountableAustralian AboriginalA totem, or (by metonymy) a clan or clansman which uses it.

    1993, J. Janson, Gunjies That’s a beautiful goanna. […]. He’s my meat, can’t eat him.

    4 more examples

    When a stranger comes to an aboriginal camp or settlement in north-western NSW, he is asked by one of the older aborigines: "What meat (clan) are you?"

    1949, Vol.XX, Oceania

    Granny Sullivan was ‘dead against’ the match at first because they did not know "what my meat was and because I was a bit on the fair side."

    1973, M. Fennel, A. Grey, Nucoorilma

    Some people maintained that she was "sung" because her family had killed or eaten the "meat" (totem) of another group.

    1977, A. K. Eckermann, Group Organisation and Identity

    Our family[…]usually married the red kangaroo "meat".

    1992, P. Taylor, Tell it Like it Is