the act of consuming or the state of being consumed, esp by eating, burning, etc expenditure on goods and services for final personal use the quantity consumed a condition characterized by a wasting away of the tissues of the body, esp as seen in tuberculosis of the lungs
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
con•sump•tion /kənˈsʌmpʃən/USA pronunciation
n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- the act of consuming.
- the amount consumed: the high consumption of gasoline.
- Businessthe using up of goods and services:Conspicuous consumption is the public display of the expensive goods that one can afford to buy.
- PathologyOlder Use. tuberculosis of the lungs.
con•sump•tion
(kən sump′shən),USA pronunciation n.
- the act of consuming, as by use, decay, or destruction.
- the amount consumed:the high consumption of gasoline.
- Business[Econ.]the using up of goods and services having an exchangeable value.
- Pathology
- [Older Use.]tuberculosis of the lungs.
- progressive wasting of the body.
- Latin consūmptiōn- (stem of consūmptiō) a consuming, wasting, equivalent. to consūmpt(us), past participle of consūmere to consume (con- con- + sūmp- (variant stem of sūmere to take up, spend) + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion
- Middle French)
- Middle English consumpcyon (1350–1400
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged depletion, exploitation, utilization.
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