diet
DEYE-uht
Diet (noun) means the food and drink a person or animal regularly consumes. Example: “A balanced diet includes plenty of fruit and vegetables.”
noun
1
The food and drink a person or animal regularly consumes.
"A balanced diet includes plenty of fruit and vegetables."
"Pandas survive almost entirely on a diet of bamboo."
"Cows eat a diet that is mostly grass, with some hay in winter."
2
A controlled eating plan followed to lose weight or improve health.
"She started a low-carb diet before the wedding."
"My doctor put me on a diet to help lower my cholesterol."
"Going on a strict diet made him feel tired and grumpy."
adjective
1
Having reduced sugar, fat, or calories compared to the standard version.
"He ordered a diet soda with his lunch."
"She prefers diet lemonade because regular fizzy drinks taste far too sweet."
"The shop sells a diet version of almost every fizzy drink."
verb
1
To eat according to a controlled plan, usually to lose weight.
"He’s been dieting for months to get ready for the marathon."
"My sister is dieting at the moment, so she skipped the dessert."
"I find it hard to diet when there are biscuits in the house."
How to use diet
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWhat you eat day to day, or a special eating plan meant to change your weight or health.
Common pairings
a healthy diet
go on a diet
diet soda
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Word forms
- Plural
- diets
- Third person singular
- diets
- Past tense
- dieted
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A balanced _____ includes plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Etymology
From Old French diete, from Latin diaeta, ultimately from Greek díaita, meaning "way of living" or "regimen."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for diet
See all rhymes for diet →Frequently asked questions
What does “diet” mean?
The word “diet” means the food and drink a person or animal regularly consumes. In plain terms, what you eat day to day, or a special eating plan meant to change your weight or health.
How do you pronounce “diet”?
“Diet” is pronounced DEYE-uht (/ˈdaɪət/ in IPA).
How do you use “diet” in a sentence?
Here is “diet” used in a sentence: “A balanced diet includes plenty of fruit and vegetables.”
What part of speech is “diet”?
Depending on how it is used, “diet” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “diet” come from?
The word “diet” comes from Latin. From Old French diete, from Latin diaeta, ultimately from Greek díaita, meaning "way of living" or "regimen.".
Is “diet” a common word?
“Diet” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “diet” have?
“Diet” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the food and drink a person or animal regularly consumes.
What is the difference between your diet and going on a diet?
Your diet, in the broad sense, is simply everything you habitually eat and drink. "Going on a diet" narrows this to a controlled eating plan, usually to lose weight or improve health. So everyone has a diet, but not everyone is following one.
What are some types of diets?
Types include the habitual diets of animals — herbivorous, carnivorous, or omnivorous — and human eating patterns such as vegetarian, vegan, Mediterranean, or gluten-free diets. Others are structured for a goal, like low-carb or low-calorie diets. The word covers both what is eaten regularly and planned regimens.
How does diet affect health?
Diet has a major influence on health. A balanced diet supplying enough protein, vitamins, fibre, and energy supports growth, immunity, and wellbeing. A poor diet — too high in sugar, salt, or fat — raises the risk of conditions like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.
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