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v. con·sumed, con·sum·ing, con·sumes v.tr. 1. To take in as food; eat or drink up. See Synonyms at eat. 2. a. To expend; use up: engines that consume less fuel; a project that consumed most of my time and energy. b. To purchase (goods or services) for direct use or ownership. 3. To waste; squander. 4. To destroy totally; ravage: flames that consumed the house; a body consumed by cancer. v.intr. To purchase economic goods and services: a society that consumes as fast as it produces. [Middle English consumen, from Latin cōnsūmere : com-, intensive pref.; see COM- + sūmere, to take; see em- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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