A meal is food eaten at a particular time of day, usually involving multiple items served together. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are the three main meals most people eat. A meal might be as simple as a sandwich and an apple, or as elaborate as Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, stuffing, and all the trimmings.

The word suggests something more substantial than a snack. When your family sits down for a meal together, you're eating enough food to fuel your body for several hours, something more filling than a handful of crackers. Athletes eat carefully planned meals to give them energy for competition. Camping trips require planning meals ahead of time so you bring enough food.

People also use meal to describe the experience of eating together, not just the food itself. “We had a wonderful meal” might mean the food was delicious, but it can also mean the conversation and company were enjoyable. The phrase “three square meals a day” means eating regular, satisfying meals, a sign of having enough food to stay healthy and strong.