[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/meal/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [M](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/m/) / meal # meal noun (a meal, meals); noun (meal, uncountable — roughly ground grain, as in oatmeal) «meal» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. A meal is the food you eat at one time, such as breakfast, lunch or dinner. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/meal/#m1) 2. A meal is also the time when you eat this food. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/meal/#m2) 3. Meal (uncountable) is grain ground into a rough powder, like oatmeal or cornmeal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/meal/#m3) ### In the lessons In health lessons eating regular, balanced meals (with vegetables, fruit, grains and protein) gives energy all day. In everyday life families share meals; names for meals differ: lunch or dinner at midday, dinner, tea or supper in the evening. In maths problems meals are counted: three meals a day for a week is 21 meals. Phrases: have a meal, a big meal, a hot meal, meal time, ready meal, make a meal of something (make it take too long). ### Examples - Breakfast is the first meal of the day. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/meal/#x1) - We had a lovely meal at Grandma's house. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/meal/#x2) - Wash your hands before every meal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/meal/#x3) - Try to eat vegetables with every meal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/meal/#x4) - Three meals a day for a week makes twenty-one meals. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/meal/#x5) - Dinner is my favourite meal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/meal/#x6) - We cooked a meal for the family together. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/meal/#x7) - Don't eat lots of snacks just before a meal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/meal/#x8) - Iktomi had no regular meal times. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/meal/#x9) ### Note Countable: a meal, meals. A snack is a small amount of food between meals, not a meal. Cornmeal and oatmeal are foods made from ground grain. «Make a meal of something» means take too long or make too much fuss. ## In Jewish tradition A meal-offering was made of fine flour, oil and frankincense, brought to the priest. Part of it was burned on the altar, and the rest was eaten by the priests. **Interpretation.** Tradition says this offering was often brought by the poor, and God counts it as precious as an animal. It shows that even the smallest gift matters. ### Examples - Thou shalt break it in pieces, and pour oil thereon; it is a meal-offering. (Torah LEV.2.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/meal/#x1) - And thou shalt put oil upon it, and lay frankincense thereon; it is a meal-offering. (Torah LEV.2.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/meal/#x2) - And every meal-offering of the priest shall be wholly made to smoke; it shall not be eaten. (Torah LEV.6.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/meal/#x3) - I have not burdened thee with a meal-offering, nor wearied thee with frankincense. (Prophets ISA.43.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/meal/#x4) - Receive the memorial of all thy meal-offerings, and accept the fat of thy burnt-sacrifice; Selah (Writings PSA.20.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/meal/#x5) - And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal; (Prophets 1KI.5.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/meal/#x6) ### Note Countable: a meal, meals. A snack is a small amount of food between meals, not a meal. Cornmeal and oatmeal are foods made from ground grain. «Make a meal of something» means take too long or make too much fuss. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «meal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/meal/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«meal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/meal.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «meal» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/meal/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«meal» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/meal.html) on Mova free.