Diet

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈdaɪət/
• Rhymes: -aɪət

Alternative forms

• diët rare

Origin

From Old French diete, from Medieval Latin dieta "daily allowance, regulation, daily order", from Ancient Greek δίαιτα.

Full definition of diet

Noun

1. (food a person or animal consumes)The food and beverage a person or animal consumes.The diet of the Giant Panda consists mainly of bamboo.
2. (countable) A controlled regimen of food and drink, as to gain or lose weight or otherwise influence health.
3. By extension, any habitual intake or consumption.He's been reading a steady diet of nonfiction for the last several years.
4. (countable) A council or assembly of leaders; a formal deliberative assembly.

Derived terms

• dietarian
• dietary
• dieter
• dietetics

Verb

1. (transitive) To regulate the food of (someone); to put on a diet.
• 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, I.iii.1.2:they will diet themselves, feed and live alone.
• SpenserShe diets him with fasting every day.
2. (intransitive) To modify one's food and beverage intake so as to decrease or increase body weight or influence health.I've been dieting for six months, and have lost some weight.
3. (obsolete) To eat; to take one's meals.
• Francis BaconLet him ... diet in such places, where there is good company of the nation, where he travelleth.
4. (obsolete, transitive) To cause to take food; to feed.
• OthelloBut partly led to diet my revenge...

Anagrams

• edit
• tide
• tied