consumption
consumption — noun
1. The quantity of something such as fuel, water, food, or electricity that people
The quantity of something such as fuel, water, food, or electricity that people use over a given period.
The city's energy consumption dropped by twelve percent after the new policy.
energy / water / fuel consumption — common premodifier pattern
Aoi checked the water consumption on her bill for signs of a leak.
The factory reduced its fuel consumption by installing solar panels on the roof.
Higher electricity consumption during summer is mostly caused by air conditioning.
The report showed that daily meat consumption has doubled in twenty years.
- production
the creation or supply side that balances consumption
文法句型
consumption + of + noun phrase
premodifier: [noun] + consumption
用法筆記
Often appears as a premodifier in compound-like noun phrases (e.g. energy consumption, water consumption). Refers to a measurable quantity, not the action itself — compare with sense 2.
常見錯誤
2. The process of using something up, especially by eating, drinking, or applying e
The process of using something up, especially by eating, drinking, or applying energy to it.
The consumption of alcohol before driving is strictly prohibited by law.
consumption of [noun] — pattern specifying what is consumed
Adina's nutritionist discussed the benefits of mindful consumption during meals.
The government launched a public campaign about responsible alcohol consumption.
After the marathon, the runners focused on food and water consumption to recover.
The process of energy consumption inside the human body is called metabolism.
- conservation
the careful preservation or saving of resources instead of using them up
文法句型
consumption + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Focuses on the activity or process rather than the measured amount. Use 'consumption of + noun' to specify what is being used up. Distinguish from sense 1, which highlights quantity rather than action.
常見錯誤
3. The way that books, films, music, news, or other cultural materials are created
The way that books, films, music, news, or other cultural materials are created or presented for a specific type of audience to enjoy or learn from.
The president's speech was meant for public consumption, not for the diplomats.
for public / general / mass consumption — fixed phrase
This academic paper is too technical for general consumption by non-experts.
The comedian recorded a cleaner version of his show for television consumption.
The magazine was designed for mass consumption by young adults in the city.
Sari wondered if her personal blog was suitable for public consumption by her colleagues.
文法句型
for + adjective + consumption
用法筆記
Typically appears in the fixed phrase 'for + adjective + consumption', where the adjective describes the target audience (e.g. public, general, mass, private, internal). The word does not mean 'amount consumed' in this sense.
常見錯誤
4. An older name for a serious lung infection that makes a person grow weaker over
An older name for a serious lung infection that makes a person grow weaker over time, now known as tuberculosis.
In old novels, characters who cough up blood are often dying of consumption.
archaic medical term — only in historical or literary contexts
Tamás found his great-grandmother's death certificate listing consumption as the cause of death.
Before the invention of antibiotics, consumption was a frightening and widespread disease.
Henrik read a historical novel in which the heroine slowly dies of consumption.
- tuberculosis
the modern medical term; precise and clinical
- TB
common abbreviation for tuberculosis in modern English
用法筆記
This sense is now only found in historical writing, older literature, or period pieces. The modern medical term is tuberculosis (often shortened to TB). Learners should recognise it when reading classic literature but not use it in modern speech.
5. The economic activity in which people purchase goods and services to meet their
The economic activity in which people purchase goods and services to meet their needs and desires.
Consumer spending accounts for the largest share of economic consumption in the country.
economic / household / private consumption — economics domain collocations
Aarav studies patterns of household consumption closely to predict future market trends.
The rise in consumption of luxury goods suggests a period of steady economic growth.
Economists measure private consumption as a key indicator of a nation's overall wealth.
- spending
more general and less technical; focuses on money paid rather than goods used
- demand
refers to the desire or need for products rather than the actual purchase
- expenditure
formal term for the amount of money spent; broader than consumption
- production
the creation of goods and services that are then consumed
- saving
the portion of income not spent on consumption
文法句型
consumption + of + noun phrase
adjective + consumption
用法筆記
A technical term in economics. Frequently modified by adjectives such as 'household', 'private', 'domestic', 'consumer', or 'aggregate'. Contrasts with 'production' — the two are the fundamental sides of economic activity.