morsel

UK: /ˈmɔː^rs^əl/ US: /ˈmɔrsəl/ ,(môr′səl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

mor•sel /ˈmɔrsəl/   n. [countable]

1. a small piece or amount of anything, esp. food;
   scrap;
   bit:
   to eat a few morsels.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

mor•sel  (môr′səl), n. 

1. a bite, mouthful, or small portion of food, candy, etc.
2. a small piece, quantity, or amount of anything;
   scrap;
   bit.
3. something very appetizing;
   treat or tidbit.
4. a person or thing that is attractive or delightful.

v.t. 

5. to distribute in or divide into tiny portions (often fol. by out):
   to morsel out the last pieces of meat.

• Latin -ellus diminutive suffix; see -elle
• Latin morsum something bitten off, noun, nominal use of neuter of morsus, past participle of mordēre to bite) + -el
• Old French, equivalent. to mors a bite (
• Middle English 1250–1300

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

morsel / ˈmɔːs^əl/ noun

1. a small slice or mouthful of food
2. a small piece; bit
3. a term of endearment for a child

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French, from mors a bite, from Latin morsus, from mordēre to bite