nourishment
B2Formal to neutral. More formal than 'food'.
Definition
Meaning
The food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition.
Anything that supports, sustains, or encourages the development of something, such as ideas, culture, or relationships.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an uncountable noun. Can refer to both literal, physical sustenance and metaphorical sustenance for abstract entities.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage or meaning. The word is used identically.
Connotations
Connotes a sense of essential, wholesome sustenance in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more common in formal, written contexts in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to derive nourishment from [noun]to provide nourishment for [noun]to be a source of nourishmentVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “food for thought (as a metaphorical parallel for mental nourishment)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in corporate wellness contexts: 'The company's culture provides nourishment for innovation.'
Academic
Common in biology, nutrition, sociology, and literature: 'The soil lacked the necessary nourishment for the crops.' / 'The artist found nourishment in the works of the old masters.'
Everyday
Used when discussing health, diet, or parenting: 'The baby is getting all the nourishment she needs from breast milk.'
Technical
Used in agricultural, medical, and nutritional sciences with precise reference to nutrients.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The rain nourished the parched earth.
- A good book can nourish the mind.
American English
- The program is designed to nourish young talent.
- We need to nourish our relationships.
adverb
British English
- The soil was nourishingly rich.
- She spoke nourishingly to the anxious child.
American English
- The sauce was nourishingly thick with vegetables.
- He smiled nourishingly at his team.
adjective
British English
- The broth was very nourishing.
- She offered some nourishing advice.
American English
- It's a nourishing meal for a cold day.
- He found the conversation spiritually nourishing.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Babies need milk for nourishment.
- Plants get nourishment from the sun and soil.
- The doctor said he wasn't getting proper nourishment.
- She finds nourishment in reading poetry.
- Without adequate nourishment, the body's immune system weakens.
- The political exile found intellectual nourishment in the writings of dissidents.
- The arid land yielded little nourishment for the starving population.
- The artist's creative work draws nourishment from a complex interplay of cultural influences.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of NOURISH-MENT: the 'MENT' that comes from things that NOURISH you, like food for the body or ideas for the mind.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS ARE FOOD (e.g., 'I need to digest that information,' 'That book was nourishing').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'питание', which is more general 'food/meals'. 'Nourishment' is more abstract, focusing on the sustaining quality. Use 'питание' for 'food', 'питательные вещества' or 'поддержка' for 'nourishment'.
Common Mistakes
- Using as a countable noun (e.g., 'a nourishment'). Incorrect: 'She ate a nourishment.' Correct: 'She ate some nourishment' or 'She ate food.'
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'nourishment' used metaphorically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Food' is the concrete substance you eat. 'Nourishment' is the beneficial, sustaining quality provided by food or other things. All food provides nourishment, but 'nourishment' can also come from non-food sources.
Almost never. It is primarily an uncountable (mass) noun. You would not say 'a nourishment' or 'nourishments'.
'Nutrition' is the scientific process of obtaining and using food, or the study of this. 'Nourishment' is the act or result of providing what is necessary for health and growth. They overlap, but 'nourishment' has a wider, more holistic and sometimes metaphorical use.
Yes, this is a common and correct metaphorical extension, meaning support or sustenance for one's emotional well-being.
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