consume
Definitions
To use up a resource, especially fuel, energy, time, or money.
消耗，用尽（燃料、能源、时间或金钱等）。
To eat or drink something.
吃，喝；食用。
To occupy someone's attention or feelings completely.
完全占据（人的注意力或情绪）；吞噬。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedcon- (completely) + sume (take) = 'take up completely.' Taking something up until nothing is left gives the core sense 'use up' (consume fuel). The same image stretches to taking food into the body (consume a meal) and to being taken over entirely by a feeling (consumed by anger).
Root sum still carries 17 more wordsWhy It Means This
Consume always means 'taking something up until it's gone' — the only question is what is being taken. Take up a resource and you use it up; take food up into the body and you eat it; let an emotion take you up and you're consumed by it. One root act, three everyday meanings.
Common Collocations
- 1.consume resources消耗资源
- 2.consume energy消耗能源
- 3.consume food食用食物
- 4.consumed by fire被火吞没
Example Sentences
- 1.
This old heater consumes a huge amount of electricity.
- 2.
Athletes consume far more calories than office workers.
- 3.
He was consumed by guilt for weeks after the accident.