feast

/fi:st/

Friendly

Word: Feast

Part of Speech: Noun and Verb

Basic Definition:

• Noun: A feast is a large, special meal where there is a lot of delicious food, often enjoyed with family or friends. It can also refer to a big celebration or party.

• Verb: To feast means to eat a lot of food with great enjoyment or to enjoy something visually.

Usage Instructions:

• As a noun, "feast" can describe a meal like Thanksgiving dinner, a wedding banquet, or any special occasion where food is abundant.
• As a verb, you can use "feast" to describe the act of enjoying a meal or a beautiful sight.

Examples:

• Noun: "We had a wonderful feast on Thanksgiving with turkey, stuffing, and pie."
• Verb: "We feasted on delicious dishes at the wedding banquet."

Advanced Usage:

• You might say, "The art gallery was a feast for the eyes," meaning that the artwork was very beautiful and enjoyable to look at.
• When planning an event, you could say, "We will feast in celebration of our achievements," meaning that there will be a large meal to honor accomplishments.

Word Variants:

• Feasting (verb): The act of enjoying a feast or a large meal. "They are feasting on the delicious food."
• Feasted (past tense): "They feasted on a variety of dishes at the festival."

Different Meanings:

1. Cultural Context: In many cultures, a feast is not just about food; it can also be a time for socializing, celebrating traditions, or honoring important events.
2. Visual Context: "A feast for the eyes" means something that is very beautiful or pleasing to look at, like a stunning landscape or an artistic display.

Synonyms:

• Banquet
• Celebration
• Feast day (for religious events)
• Spread (informal, referring to a large amount of food)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• Feast one's eyes on: This means to look at something with great pleasure or enjoyment. For example, "She feasted her eyes on the beautiful sunset."
• Feast or famine: This idiom means a situation where there is either a lot or very little of something, often used in a context of resources or opportunities.

Academic

Noun

1. an elaborate party (often outdoors)
2. a meal that is well prepared and greatly enjoyed
   • a banquet for the graduating seniors
   • the Thanksgiving feast
   • they put out quite a spread
3. something experienced with great delight
   • a feast for the eyes
4. a ceremonial dinner party for many people

Verb

1. gratify
   • feed one's eyes on a gorgeous view
2. provide a feast or banquet for
3. partake in a feast or banquet

Synonyms

• fete
• fiesta
• banquet
• spread
• feed
• junket