Breakfast Definition: First Meal of the Day

Meaning 1：first meal of the day (breakfast)

breakfast 🔊

/ˈbrekfəst/

The first meal you eat in the morning, after waking up.

Breakfast scene with cereal, toast, and orange juice in morning light

first meal of the day 🔊

➕

/fɜːrst miːl əv ðə deɪ/

The first meal eaten after waking up in the morning, typically consisting of foods like cereal, eggs, toast, and fruit.

📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：elementary

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Combination of 'break' (interrupt) and 'fast' (fasting period), meaning to end the nightly fast.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'break' + 'fast' — you break your fast after sleeping all night.

📖 Example

My mom always says, "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day," so she makes sure I have eggs and toast before school. 🔊 My mom always says, "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day," so she makes sure I have eggs and toast before school.

🔗 Collocations

have breakfast – to eat the morning meal

eat breakfast – to consume the first meal of the day

breakfast cereal – a grain product eaten as part of breakfast

🔄 Synonyms

morning meal (n.) – the first meal of the day, eaten in the morning

first meal (n.) – the initial meal after waking up

🚫 Antonyms

dinner (n.) – the main meal of the day, typically eaten in the evening

supper (n.) – the last meal of the day, often lighter than dinner

fast (n.) – a period of time when you eat no food

🌱 Derivatives

breakfast (v.) – to eat breakfast

breakfasted (v.) – past tense of breakfast: ate breakfast

breakfasting (v.) – present participle of breakfast: eating breakfast

📖 Cultural Story

Originating from Old English, 'breakfast' literally means 'breaking the fast' after a night of sleep. It became a standard term in the 15th century.