verb (used with object)
- to swallow or eat up hungrily, voraciously, or ravenously.
- to consume destructively, recklessly, or wantonly: Fire devoured the old museum.
- to engulf or swallow up.
- to take in greedily with the senses or intellect: to devour the works of Freud.
- to absorb or engross wholly: a mind devoured by fears.
verb (tr)
- to swallow or eat up greedily or voraciously
- to waste or destroy; consumethe flames devoured the curtains
- to consume greedily or avidly with the senses or mindhe devoured the manuscripts
- to engulf or absorbthe flood devoured the land
early 14c., from Old French devorer (12c.) “devour, swallow up, engulf,” from Latin devorare “swallow down, accept eagerly,” from de- “down” (see de-) + vorare “to swallow” (see voracity). Related: Devoured; devouring.