diet
diet Lexical Profile
diet Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The kinds of food and drink that a person, animal, or community habitually consumes.
"A balanced diet rich in vegetables and whole grains is essential for long-term health."
A special course or controlled regimen of food to which someone restricts themselves, either to lose weight or for medical reasons.
"The physician recommended a low-sodium diet to help manage his blood pressure."
A formal legislative assembly, national parliament, or council in certain countries, such as Japan or historically the Holy Roman Empire.
"The National Diet of Japan convened to debate the new economic legislation."
• adjective
Formulated with reduced calories, sugar, or fat, typically using artificial sweeteners and marketed to aid weight control.
"She ordered a diet soda to accompany her lunch."
• verb
To restrict oneself to small amounts or special kinds of food in order to lose weight or improve health.
"Many people find it more effective to exercise regularly than to diet strictly."
• Rhymes for diet
Word Origin & Etymology
In the sense of food, the word comes via Old French from Latin 'diaeta', derived from Ancient Greek 'diaita' meaning 'a way of life' or 'regimen'. The legislative sense derives separately from Medieval Latin 'dieta' ('a day's work' or 'daily assembly'), influenced by Latin 'dies' ('day').