Glutton
/ˈɡlʌt̬.ən/
nounB2
Definition
A glutton is someone who eats too much food, often more than is healthy or necessary. The word usually suggests a habit or strong desire to eat a lot, sometimes without control or thinking about others. It can also mean a person who wants too much of something, not only food.
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See It in Action
A person who eats large amounts of food, often too much
- •The glutton ate three plates of dessert after dinner.
- •People called him a glutton because he never stopped eating at parties.
- •She felt like a glutton after finishing the whole cake by herself.
(Less common) Someone who desires or takes too much of something, not just food
- •He was a glutton for work, always taking on more tasks than he could handle.
- •The company was a glutton for profits, wanting as much money as possible.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "glutton" like "eater," but a much stronger idea—someone who eats too much, not just a normal eater
- ✓Picture a big plate full of food and a person happily eating everything quickly and without stopping
- ✓It's the feeling you get when someone eats so much that you are surprised or worried
- ✓Sounds like "GLUT-ton" → imagine a "glut" of food, meaning a lot of food, and someone who takes it all
- ✓Think of famous stories or cartoons where a character is always eating and cannot stop, like a hungry bear or a big dog
- ✓NOT like "hungry" (which means needing food), a glutton eats too much even if not hungry
- ✓NOT like "greedy" (which means wanting too much of anything), a glutton is specifically about eating too much
- ✓NOT like "snack" (small eating), a glutton eats large amounts, not just small bites
Try Other Words
- •Overeater: someone who eats too much (Use when focusing on the habit of eating too much food)
- •Hog: informal word for someone who takes or uses too much (Use in casual or humorous situations)
- •Greedy person: someone who wants too much of anything, not only food (Use when the desire is for things other than food)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "glut" (excess, too much) + suffix "-ton" (used to form nouns for people)
- •Etymology: From Old French "glouton," meaning someone who eats a lot, from Late Latin "gluttire" meaning to gulp or swallow
- •Historical development: The word has been used since the 14th century to describe a person who eats excessively
- •Modern usage: Often used to describe people who eat without control or have a strong desire for food, sometimes used humorously or critically
Reflect & Connect
•Can being called a glutton ever be a positive thing, or is it always negative? Why?
•How does culture or society influence what we think about gluttony and eating habits?
Fill in the blanks
1.A glutton usually eats ___ large amounts of food, often more than needed or healthy.
2.When someone is called a glutton, it means they have a strong ___ for eating.
3.Unlike a hungry person, a glutton may eat ___ they are not really hungry.
4.People sometimes say "glutton for punishment" to describe someone who ___ difficult situations again and again.
5.A glutton often ___ food quickly and without stopping.
6.The word glutton is often used ___ to describe someone eating too much at a party or feast.
7.If someone is a glutton, we can often ___ that they enjoy food very much and may not control their eating.