Loss of Appetite: Definition, Causes, and Usage

Meaning 1：loss of appetite (Loss of appetite)

Loss of appetite 🔊

/lɒs əv ˈæpɪtaɪt/

n. phrase

A common sign when someone doesn't feel like eating, often because they're unwell or upset.

loss of appetite 🔊

➕

/lɒs əv ˈæpɪtaɪt/

n. phrase

A condition where a person has no desire to eat, often due to illness, stress, or other factors.

📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Derived from 'loss' (Old English los) + 'appetite' (Latin appetitus, desire).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'lost appetite' as a missing desire for food, like a key that unlocks hunger but is gone.

📖 Example

After catching a cold, he experienced a complete loss of appetite and couldn't even finish his favorite soup. 🔊 After catching a cold, he experienced a complete loss of appetite and could not even finish his favorite soup.

🔗 Collocations

have a loss of appetite – to experience a reduced desire for food

suffer from loss of appetite – to endure a persistent lack of hunger

loss of appetite during pregnancy – a temporary decrease in the desire to eat while pregnant

🔄 Synonyms

lack of appetite (n. phrase) – a synonym meaning no desire to eat

anorexia (n.) – a medical term for severe loss of appetite

reduced hunger (n. phrase) – a decreased sensation of needing food

🚫 Antonyms

healthy appetite (n. phrase) – a normal desire to eat

voracious appetite (n. phrase) – an extreme eagerness for food

good appetite (n. phrase) – a strong and positive desire to eat

📖 Cultural Story

Commonly used in medical contexts to describe reduced desire to eat, often due to illness or emotional distress. No mythological origin.