meal

1. (countable) Food that is prepared and eaten, usually at a specific time, and usually in a comparatively large quantity (as opposed to a snack).Examples: "Breakfast is the morning meal, lunch is the noon meal, and dinner, or supper, is the evening meal."; "c1450, Secreta Secretorumː He that will cast meal upon meal is not able to have (a) long life."; "c1500, The King and the Hermitː I have been there and taken deal / And have had many (a) merry meal."countable

2. (countable) Food served or eaten as a repast.Examples: "a1450, The Macro Playsː If thou wilt fare well at meat and meal, come and follow me."; "This is the meal pleasantly set . . . . this is the meat and drink for natural hunger, / It is for the wicked just the same as the righteous . . . ."; "Last spring, the periodical cicadas emerged across eastern North America. Their vast numbers and short above-ground life spans inspired awe and irritation in humans—and made for good meals for birds and small mammals."countable

3. (uncountable, informal) A break taken by a police officer in order to eat.Examples: "They [tape recorders] can be turned off while officers are on meal or in the car to protect their private conversations […]"; "“I was on meal when I heard the call on the radio and recognized the address. What the hell?”"informaluncountable

4. (obsolete) A time or an occasion.Examples: "Ye wolde wepe at every mele; But for my sone wepe ye never a dele. You would weep at every meal, but for my son you never weep a deal."; "[…] by occasion whereoff thai woll than at every mele groche with the kinge […] […] by occasion whereof they will, then at every meal, grouch with the king […]"; "a1450, Henry Lovelich, The History of the Holy Grailː Which was to them a sorry meal."countableobsoleteuncountable