1. 1. The act or process of consuming.
   2. The state of being consumed.
   3. An amount consumed.
2. Economics. The using up of goods and services by consumer purchasing or in the production of other goods.
3. Pathology.
   1. A progressive wasting of body tissue.
   2. Pulmonary tuberculosis. No longer in scientific use.

[Middle English consumpcioun, from Latin cōnsūmptiō, cōnsūmptiōn-, a consuming, from cōnsūmptus, past participle of cōnsūmere, to consume. See consume.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.