feast
/fiːst/ (bre, ipa) · /fiːst/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfēst/ (ame, mw)
feast — noun
- feastsingular
- feastsplural
1. a meal of many rich dishes, shared with family or friends, often to celebrate a
a meal of many rich dishes, shared with family or friends, often to celebrate a wedding, holiday, or other happy occasion.
The wedding feast lasted all evening, with seven courses and live music.
collocation: wedding feast
After the harvest, the village gathered for a feast of roasted meat and bread.
feast of [dish type] for describing spread
The host prepared a feast that included dishes from five different countries.
For the New Year celebration, the family spent days cooking a huge feast.
- snack
a small, light amount of food, not a full meal
常見錯誤
2. a single experience or event that is extremely pleasant and satisfying — such as
a single experience or event that is extremely pleasant and satisfying — such as a concert you love, a garden you admire, or a market you enjoy exploring.
The spring garden was a feast for the senses, with colorful flowers and sweet smells.
a feast for the [senses/eyes/ears]
That museum exhibition is a visual feast of Renaissance paintings.
The concert was a feast of classical music that left the audience breathless.
Walking through the night market was a feast of sights and sounds.
- treat
more informal, can refer to any special pleasure, not just sensory
用法筆記
Very often used in the pattern 'a feast for the [senses/eyes/ears]' to describe something that gives visual or auditory pleasure.
3. a large and enjoyable variety of different things — emphasizing abundance and ra
a large and enjoyable variety of different things — emphasizing abundance and range rather than a single event; for example, a library with a wide selection of books, or a website offering many types of recipes.
The library offers a feast of books on every topic you can imagine.
a feast of [things] for abundance
This photography book is a feast of images from across Southeast Asia.
The artist's studio contains a feast of sketches, paints, and half-finished canvases.
The website offers a feast of recipes from every region of Italy.
4. a holy day in a religion that honors a specific religious figure or remembers an
a holy day in a religion that honors a specific religious figure or remembers an important religious event.
Easter is the most important feast in the Christian calendar.
The village celebrates its patron saint's feast every autumn with a parade.
collocation: patron saint's feast
The Feast of St. Francis is held on October 4 each year.
Many families attend church services on the feast of the Assumption.
用法筆記
Often capitalized when referring to a specific named celebration, for example 'the Feast of the Epiphany' or 'the Feast of Passover.'
常見錯誤
feast — verb
- feastpresent simple I / you / we / they
- feasts3rd person singular
- feasting-ing form
- feastedpast simple
1. to eat a large amount of rich food with enjoyment, usually as part of a celebrat
to eat a large amount of rich food with enjoyment, usually as part of a celebration with other people.
After the ceremony, the guests feasted on roast lamb and fresh vegetables.
feast on + [specific food]
The family feasted together at the long wooden table in the garden.
The children feasted on sweets and cakes until their parents told them to stop.
The travelers returned from the long journey and feasted at the village inn.
- fast
to eat no food for a period
文法句型
feast on [food]
feast upon [food]
常見錯誤
2. to take great pleasure in an experience, sensation, or artistic work — for examp
to take great pleasure in an experience, sensation, or artistic work — for example, looking at beautiful scenery or listening to wonderful music.
The art students feasted on the Van Gogh paintings at the exhibition.
feast on [art/visual experience]
As the sun set, the couple feasted on the view of the valley below.
Music lovers feasted on three hours of jazz performed by world-class musicians.
The children feasted on the storyteller's tales late into the night.
文法句型
feast on [experience, view, art]
用法筆記
Distinguish from verb sense 1 (EAT HEARTILY): this sense is about enjoying non-food experiences. The object after 'on' is an experience, view, sound, or artwork, not a meal.
3. to provide a large, elaborate meal for a group of people, usually to mark a cele
to provide a large, elaborate meal for a group of people, usually to mark a celebration or honor important visitors.
The mayor feasted the visiting diplomats at the town hall.
transitive: feast + [group of people]
The groom's parents feasted all two hundred guests at a grand hotel.
The local chief feasted the travelers who had arrived from across the mountains.
Every year the school feasts the retiring teachers at a formal dinner.
文法句型
feast + [guests]
用法筆記
This sense is always transitive — the people receiving the meal are the direct object. Less common in everyday conversation; more frequent in historical or literary contexts.
4. to give your senses a deeply satisfying experience — most commonly used in the f
to give your senses a deeply satisfying experience — most commonly used in the fixed phrase 'feast your eyes on,' meaning to look at something beautiful or impressive with great pleasure.
The visitors feasted their eyes on the bright fireworks above the harbor.
fixed phrase: feast your eyes on [sth visual]
The traveler feasted her eyes on the hand-painted silk displayed in the market.
fixed phrase: feast your eyes on [sth]
From the hilltop, the hikers feasted their eyes on the vast lake below.
The architect feasted her eyes on the cathedral's stained-glass windows.
文法句型
feast your eyes on [something]
feast [someone's] senses
用法筆記
The most common pattern is 'feast your eyes on' — a fixed phrase meaning 'to look at something with great pleasure.' The object must be something beautiful or impressive. Other senses (feast your ears, feast your senses) are possible but less common.