bread

American  

[bred] / brɛd /

noun

1. a kind of food made of flour or meal that has been mixed with milk or water, made into a dough or batter, with or without yeast or other leavening agent, and baked.

2. food or sustenance; livelihood.

   to earn one's bread.

3. Slang. money.

4. Ecclesiastical. the wafer or bread used in a Eucharistic service.

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verb (used with object)

1. Cooking. to cover with breadcrumbs or meal.

idioms

1. know which side one's bread is buttered on, to be aware of those things that are to one's own advantage.

2. take the bread out of someone's mouth, to deprive someone of livelihood.

3. cast one's bread upon the waters, to act generously or charitably with no thought of personal gain.

4. break bread,

   1. to eat a meal, especially in companionable association with others.

   2. to distribute or participate in Communion.

bread British  

/ brɛd /

noun

1. a food made from a dough of flour or meal mixed with water or milk, usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked

2. necessary food; nourishment

   give us our daily bread

3. a slang word for money

4. Christianity a small loaf, piece of bread, or wafer of unleavened bread used in the Eucharist

5. something offered as a means of distracting attention from a problem or grievance

6. See break

7. to do good without expectation of advantage or return

8. to know what to do in order to keep one's advantages

9. to deprive someone of a livelihood

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verb

1. (tr) to cover with breadcrumbs before cooking

   breaded veal

bread More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing bread

• break bread
• greatest thing since sliced bread
• know which side of bread is buttered
• take the bread out of someone's mouth

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Other Word Forms

• breadless adjective
• breadlessness noun
• unbreaded adjective

Etymology

Origin of bread

before 950; 1950–55 bread for def. 3; Middle English breed, Old English brēad fragment, morsel, bread; cognate with German Brot

Example Sentences

Some proposed baking banana bread, while others considered peeling, chopping and freezing the fruit.

From BBC

We started with a generous spread of complimentary bread and butter, fresh oysters, and escargot—my wife’s favorite, not mine, though the leftover sauce was perfect for dipping.

From Salon

It was the family bread bowl, a dark yellow glaze over red-pink clay.

From Literature

The team’s in a private room Coach reserved, sitting around a long table dotted with bowls of garlic bread, salad, and a half dozen different pizzas.

From Literature

No one wanted to help make the flour, the dough or bake the bread, but they all wanted to eat it after it was done.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cabbage
• dough