bread
A1Neutral/Informal. The slang meaning for 'money' is very informal, but the literal sense is neutral and used in all registers.
Definition
Meaning
A staple food made from a dough of flour and water, usually leavened and baked.
Slang for money (chiefly US/UK informal); livelihood, sustenance; the consecrated Eucharistic wafer; a simple, basic food.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is generally an uncountable noun when referring to the food substance ('a loaf of bread', 'some bread'). It is countable in specific contexts referring to types of bread ('artisan breads', 'sourdough breads'). The slang term for money is uncountable.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The slang term for money is equally informal in both, though slightly more dated/character-driven now. The term 'bread and butter' for one's main income source is common in both. US uses 'bread' more generically for baked loafs; UK sometimes distinguishes specific types more (e.g., cob, bap).
Connotations
Literal: neutral sustenance. Slang: working-class/mid-20th century connotations (e.g., 1960s counterculture).
Frequency
The literal meaning is extremely high-frequency in both. The slang 'money' meaning is low-frequency in contemporary speech, though understood.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
VERB + bread: bake, slice, toast, butter, breakADJECTIVE + bread: fresh, stale, wholemeal, sourdough, gluten-freebread + NOUN: bread roll, bread knife, bread basket, bread makerVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bread and butter (main source of income)”
- “break bread with someone (share a meal)”
- “know which side your bread is buttered (know where your advantage lies)”
- “the greatest thing since sliced bread (an excellent innovation)”
- “cast your bread upon the waters (do good without expecting immediate return)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in metaphors: 'It's our bread and butter.'
Academic
Rare, except in historical/sociological contexts (e.g., 'the price of bread').
Everyday
Extremely common for the food item; slang for money is informal.
Technical
In baking/food science: specific types and processes.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- To bread the fish before frying it.
- She breaded the cutlets lightly.
American English
- Make sure you bread the chicken evenly.
- The recipe says to bread the zucchini slices.
adverb
British English
- This usage is extremely rare and non-standard.
- No standard adverbial form.
American English
- This usage is extremely rare and non-standard.
- No standard adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- The bread knife is blunt.
- We need a new bread bin.
American English
- Pass the bread knife, please.
- She put it in the bread box.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I eat bread for breakfast.
- Can you buy a loaf of bread, please?
- She likes brown bread.
- Could you slice the bread for the sandwiches?
- This bread is freshly baked.
- We ran out of bread, so I'll pop to the shop.
- The bakery specializes in artisanal breads made with ancient grains.
- He's just trying to earn his daily bread.
- Breaking bread together is an important ritual in many cultures.
- The new policy is the government's bread and butter issue.
- He realized too late which side his bread was buttered on.
- The novel's protagonist casts his bread upon the waters by investing in the struggling community.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
BREAD: Basic Required Eating At Dinner.
Conceptual Metaphor
BASIC NECESSITY / MONEY (Livelihood is food / Money is sustenance).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not use 'bread' to translate Russian 'хлеб' when it means 'grain' or 'cereal' in an agricultural sense.
- In Russian, 'хлеб' can be a polite offering ('хлеб-соль'). This cultural connotation does not translate directly to English 'bread'.
- Avoid calquing 'black bread' as a direct translation for 'чёрный хлеб'; 'rye bread' or 'dark bread' is more natural.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'a bread' incorrectly (should be 'a piece/slice/loaf of bread').
- Confusing 'bread' (food) with 'bred' (past tense of 'breed').
- Overusing the slang 'bread' for money in modern contexts where it sounds dated.
Practice
Quiz
In the idiom 'bread and butter', what does 'bread and butter' refer to?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily uncountable when referring to the food substance. It becomes countable when referring to different types (e.g., 'European breads').
'Bread' is the general, uncountable food material. 'A loaf of bread' is the specific, countable shape or unit in which it is often sold or baked.
Yes, but only when talking about multiple distinct types or varieties of bread (e.g., 'The bakery sells over twenty different breads.').
It is dated, originating in the mid-20th century. While widely understood, it is not commonly used in contemporary casual speech and can sound deliberately old-fashioned or imitative of past eras.
Collections
Part of a collection
Food and Drink
A1 · 49 words · Common words for food, drink and meals.
Food and Cooking
A2 · 50 words · Cooking methods, kitchen tools and recipes.