morsel

[ mawr-suhl ]

noun

1. a bite, mouthful, or small portion of food, candy, etc.
2. a small piece, quantity, or amount of anything; scrap; bit.
3. something very appetizing; treat or tidbit.
4. a person or thing that is attractive or delightful.

verb (used with object)

1. to distribute in or divide into tiny portions (often followed by out ):

   to morsel out the last pieces of meat.

morsel

/ ˈmɔːsəl /

noun

1. a small slice or mouthful of food
2. a small piece; bit
3. informal.
   a term of endearment for a child

Word History and Origins

Origin of morsel¹

1250–1300; Middle English < Old French, equivalent to mors a bite (< Latin morsum something bitten off, noun use of neuter of morsus, past participle of mordēre to bite) + -el < Latin -ellus diminutive suffix; -elle

Word History and Origins

Origin of morsel¹

C13: from Old French, from mors a bite, from Latin morsus, from mordēre to bite

Example Sentences

Anchored by its leads, “Coup!” is a tasty morsel of social commentary about problems that continue to plague our world.

From Los Angeles Times

Regardless, reporters have eagerly passed along every morsel of the Manchin saga, and Manchin has surely savored it all, because boorishly amplifying your own meager influence is one of the few political currencies we have left in 2024.

From Slate

Obviously, he was trying to make me behave like an animal, inching closer to some morsel of food in his hand.

From Literature

Then, he traded a tablespoon of honey to sweeten the tea he had just sold for another morsel of bread and cheese, which he gave to me.

From Literature

I chewed my morsel of cheese as slowly as I could and tried not to think of the furrier’s sweaty palms.

From Literature

Related Words

• chunk
• crumb
• hunk
• mouthful
• snack
• tidbit