Meal vs Heal - What's the difference?

In lang=en terms the difference between meal and heal

is that meal is to defile or taint while heal is to become better.

As nouns the difference between meal and heal

is that meal is (senseid)food that is prepared and eaten, usually at a specific time (eg breakfast = morning meal, lunch = noon meal, etc) or meal can be the coarse-ground edible part of various grains often used to feed animals; flour or meal can be a speck or spot while heal is (obsolete) health.

As verbs the difference between meal and heal

is that meal is to defile or taint while heal is to hide; conceal; keep secret or heal can be to make better from a disease, wound, etc; to revive or cure.

meal

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl), from (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)

(senseid)Food that is prepared and eaten, usually at a specific time (e.g. breakfast = morning meal, lunch = noon meal, etc).

* {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author=(Henry Petroski)

, title= Geothermal Energy , volume=101, issue=4, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Energy has seldom been found where we need it when we want it. Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. With more settled people, animals were harnessed to capstans or caged in treadmills to turn grist into meal.}}

Food served or eaten as a repast.

* {{quote-magazine, year=2012, month=March-April, author=Anna Lena Phillips, volume=100, issue=2, page=172

, magazine=(American Scientist) , title= Sneaky Silk Moths , passage=Last spring, the periodical cicadas emerged across eastern North America. Their vast numbers and short above-ground life spans inspired awe and irritation in humans—and made for good meals for birds and small mammals.}}

Hyponyms

* See also

Derived terms

* make a meal of * meal mob * meal station * meal ticket

Etymology 2

From (etyl) mele, from (etyl) . More at (l).

Noun

(-)

The coarse-ground edible part of various grains often used to feed animals; flour.

* {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author=(Henry Petroski)

, title= Geothermal Energy , volume=101, issue=4, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. With more settled people, animals were harnessed to capstans or caged in treadmills to turn grist into meal .}}

Derived terms

* mealy * cornmeal * oatmeal

Etymology 3

Variation of mole (compare (etyl) mail), from (etyl) mole, mool, from (etyl) . More at (l).

Noun

(en noun)

A speck or spot.

A part; a fragment; a portion.

Verb

(en verb)

To defile or taint.

Were he meal'd with that / Which he corrects, than were he tyrannous. ? Shakespeare.

Anagrams

* 1000 English basic words ----

heal

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) helen, hilen, from (etyl) . Related to (l), (l).

Alternative forms

* (l), (l) * (l) (Scotland)

Verb

To hide; conceal; keep secret.

To cover, as for protection.

Etymology 2

From (etyl) helen, from (etyl) . More at (l).

Verb

To make better from a disease, wound, etc.; to revive or cure.

This bandage will heal your cut.

* Bible, Matthew viii. 8

Speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed .

To become better.

Bandages allow cuts to heal .

To reconcile, as a breach or difference; to make whole; to free from guilt.

to heal dissensions

Synonyms

* (make better) cure, make whole * (become better) get better, recover

Derived terms

* healable * healand, Healand * healer * health

Noun

(-)

(obsolete) health

(Chaucer)

Anagrams

* * English ergative verbs ----