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What is the difference between meal and lunch?

meal | lunch |

As nouns the difference between meal and lunch

is that meal is (food that is prepared and eaten)Food that is prepared and eaten, usually at a specific time (e.g. breakfast = morning meal, lunch = noon meal, etc) while lunch is a light meal usually eaten around midday, notably when not as main meal of the day.

As verbs the difference between meal and lunch

is that meal is to defile or taint while lunch is to eat lunch.

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 ----

    lunch

    English

    Noun

    (es)
  • A light meal usually eaten around midday, notably when not as main meal of the day.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=5 , passage=We made an odd party before the arrival of the Ten, particularly when the Celebrity dropped in for lunch or dinner.}}
  • (cricket) A break in play between the first]] and [[second session, second sessions.
  • (Minnesota, US) Any small meal, especially one eaten at a social gathering.
  • Synonyms

    * (midday meal) luncheon

    Derived terms

    * liquid lunch * little lunch * lunch break * playlunch

    Descendants

    * Spanish:

    Verb

  • To eat lunch.
  • ''I like to lunch in Italian restaurants.

    Derived terms

    * luncher * lunchroom * ladies who lunch

    See also

    * breakfast * dine, dinner * supper ----