meat Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the flesh of animals (including fishes and birds and snails) used as food
  2. noun the inner and usually edible part of a seed or grain or nut or fruit stone
    kernel.
    • black walnut kernels are difficult to get out of the shell
  3. noun the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience
    kernel; substance; center; centre; nitty-gritty; essence; sum; heart; pith; nub; heart and soul; core; inwardness; marrow; gist.
    • the gist of the prosecutor's argument
    • the heart and soul of the Republican Party
    • the nub of the story

WordNet

Meat noun
Etymology
OE. mete, AS. mete; akin to OS. mat, meti, D. met hashed meat, G. mettwurst sausage, OHG. maz food, Icel. matr, Sw. mat, Dan. mad, Goth. mats. Cf. Mast fruit, Mush.
Definitions
  1. Food, in general; anything eaten for nourishment, either by man or beast. Hence, the edible part of anything; as, the meat of a lobster, a nut, or an egg. Chaucer.
    And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, . . . to you it shall be for meat. Gen. i. 29.
    Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you. Gen. ix. 3.
  2. The flesh of animals used as food; esp., animal muscle; as, a breakfast of bread and fruit without meat.
  3. Specifically, dinner; the chief meal. Obs. Chaucer.
Meat transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To supply with food. Obs. Tusser.
    His shield well lined, his horses meated well. Chapman.

Webster 1913