consumption

consumption

/kənˈsʌmpʃn/

1 the act of using energy, food or materials; the amount used

the production of fuel for domestic consumption (= to be used in the country where it is produced)

Gas and oil consumption always increases in cold weather.

The meat was declared unfit for human consumption.

He was advised to reduce his alcohol consumption.

consumption of something Doctors say that children need to increase their consumption of fruit and vegetables.

(figurative) Her speech to party members was not intended for public consumption (= to be heard by the public).

Half of the small crop was kept for home consumption.

It is important that the recovery be export-led rather than led by domestic consumption.

Reducing our annual consumption of energy is an important first step.

The documents were for the committee rather than for public consumption.

The documents were not for public consumption.

You need to reduce your alcohol consumption.

households that save for future consumption

the country with the highest fuel consumption in the world

Collocations

adjective

heavyhighlow…

… of consumption

level

verb + consumption

boostencourageincrease…

consumption + verb

go upgrowincrease…

consumption + noun

expenditurefigureslevels…

preposition

for somebody’s consumption

phrases

fit for human consumptionunfit for human consumption

2 the act of buying and using products

Consumption rather than saving has become the central feature of contemporary societies.

The industry faced a serious challenge in trying to stimulate consumption.

3 (old-fashioned) a serious disease of the lungs

Word Origin

late Middle English: from Latin consumptio(n-), from the verb consumere, from con- ‘altogether’ + sumere ‘take up’.

e.g.