Aliment Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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aliment

[หˆรฆlษ™หŒmษ›nt ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

food supply

Aliment refers to food or nourishment. It is often used in a more formal context to describe the essential sustenance required for health and growth.

Synonyms

nourishment, nutrition, sustenance.

Examples of usage

  • Proper aliment is crucial for child's development.
  • Many people forget the importance of a balanced aliment.
  • He ensured that his family received adequate aliment during tough times.
Context #2 | Verb

provide nourishment

To aliment means to provide nourishment or support. This usage is less common but indicates a focus on supplying essential sustenance.

Synonyms

feed, nourish, sustain.

Examples of usage

  • The mother alimented her newborn with care.
  • They worked to aliment the needy in their community.
  • The charity aims to aliment those suffering from food insecurity.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Food Science

  • The term often refers to both macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats) and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals).
  • Nutritionists emphasize the importance of a balanced diet, which includes a variety of aliments for optimal health.
  • Food security, which ensures that everyone has access to sufficient and safe aliment, is a major global concern.

Cultural Significance

  • In many cultures, food is not just for sustenance but serves as a medium for community bonding and celebration.
  • Traditional meals often include foods that have significant cultural meanings and are passed down through generations.
  • Certain aliments are seen as 'comfort food', providing emotional nourishment as well as physical.

Historical Context

  • Throughout history, varying access to aliment has influenced social systems, leading to class divisions based on what people can eat.
  • Ancient civilizations placed great importance on specific foods, considering some as sacred or tied to their deities.
  • The Agricultural Revolution drastically changed the types and sources of aliment available to societies, shifting from foraging to farming.

Health and Wellbeing

  • Proper nourishment is crucial for growth and development in children, affecting both physical health and cognitive function.
  • Research shows that diet can impact mental health, linking certain aliments to mood and cognitive disorders.
  • Public health campaigns often focus on increasing awareness about the importance of nutritious aliments for combating obesity and diabetes.

Origin of 'aliment'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from the Latin 'alimentum', which means 'nourishment' or 'food'.
  • In Old French, 'aliments' referred to 'foods' and 'nourishing substances'.
  • Related words in English include 'alimentary', relating to nourishment or the digestive system.

The word 'aliment' comes from the Latin 'alimentum', which means 'nourishment, food'. The root 'alere' in Latin translates to 'to nourish or to bring up'. The transition from Latin to Old French and then to Middle English contributed to the adoption of the word in English. Over time, 'aliment' evolved to represent not just physical nourishment in terms of food, but also the general concept of sustenance necessary for life. Its usage has declined in everyday language, being replaced by more common terms like 'food' and 'nourishment', but it occasionally appears in legal and formal texts.


Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,688, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.