(1) 吃 (take into the mouth，chew and swallow for nourishment) [I，I+adv(up)，T+n，T+n+adv(up)]： E～slowly and chew well. 要细嚼慢咽。Owls～meat. 猫头鹰吃肉。 Sheep～grass. 羊吃草。Come on，～up. 来，把饭都吃了。They are forbidden to～meat. 他们被禁止吃肉。He is in the habit of～ing porridge in the morning. 他习惯在早晨喝粥。The fish is～en raw. 这种鱼是生着吃的。E～up the spinach. 把菠菜都吃了。

(2) 吃(饭) (have a meal) [I，I+to-inf]：What are you going to～tonight? 你们今天晚上吃什么饭? We～to live，but not live to～. 我们吃饭是为了活着，但活着不是为了吃饭。

(3) 腐蚀，蛀，磨损 (corrode; wear away as if by eating or gnawing) [T+n，T+n+prep(into)， I+adv(away)]：Moths ate holes in my wool coat. 蛀虫在我的毛外套上蛀了几个洞。The worm ate its way into the apple. 苹果生虫了。Rust ate away the iron pipes. 铁管腐蚀了。Acids～(into/through) metals/linoleum. 酸会腐蚀金属/油毡。

eat like a bird/a horse 吃得很少/多：The girl～s like a bird because she is on a diet.那个女孩吃得很少，因为她正在节食。The man～s like a horse，because he hasn't～en anything for two days. 那个男人吃得很多，因为他已经有两天没吃东西了。

eat one's heart out 烦恼，忧伤过度：He will～his heart out over the death of his wife. 他会因妻子的去世而异常悲痛。

eat one's words 收回前言;认错：I'll make him～his words. 我会让他认错的。

eat out 去外面吃饭：Let's～out tonight instead of having dinner at home. 我们今天不在家里吃饭，到外面去吃吧。

eat up 欣然接受： She ate up all the compliments. 她欣然接受了对她的所有赞美。

I'll eat my hat (boots/hands/head) if... 绝无此事： I'll～my hat if I knew. 这件事我绝对不知道。

→′eatable adj 可以吃的;′eater n 食者