<p><strong>Verb (used with object)</strong></p><ul><li>ate [eyt, et] or (Archaic) eat [et, eet]; eat·en or (Archaic) eat [et, eet]; eat·ing.</li><li>to take into the mouth and swallow for nourishment; chew and swallow (food).</li><li>to consume by or as if by devouring gradually; wear away; corrode: The patient was eaten by disease and pain.</li><li>to make (a hole, passage, etc.), as by gnawing or corrosion.</li><li>to ravage or devastate: a forest eaten by fire.</li><li>to use up, especially wastefully; consume (often followed by up): Unexpected expenses have been eating up their savings.</li><li>to absorb or pay for: The builder had to eat the cost of the repairs.</li><li>Slang: Vulgar. to perform cunnilingus or fellatio on.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used without object)</strong></p><ul><li>ate [eyt, et] or (Archaic) eat [et, eet]; eat·en or (Archaic) eat [et, eet]; eat·ing.</li><li>to consume food; take a meal: We'll eat at six o'clock.</li><li>to make a way, as by gnawing or corrosion: Acid ate through the linoleum.</li></ul><p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>eats, Informal. food.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb Phrase</strong></p><ul><li>to destroy gradually, as by erosion: For eons, the pounding waves ate away at the shoreline.</li><li>to consume wholly.</li><li>to show enthusiasm for; take pleasure in: The audience ate up everything he said.</li><li>to believe without question.</li><li>to have a meal at a restaurant rather than at home.</li></ul>