Meaning 1
A large, generous meal shared for pleasure or celebration.
Reach for it when naming abundant food and communal enjoyment
The harvest feast brought every generation to one table.
Meaning 2
An abundant source of pleasure for the senses or mind.
Reach for it when using the word figuratively for rich enjoyment
The exhibition is a feast for anyone who loves color.
| Meaning 1 | Meaning 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| playful | ||
| everyday | ||
| warm |
| |
| formal | ||
| literary |
|
everyday
spread
Fits when the visible abundance of dishes is the focus
Careful Spread can describe snacks without the significance of a feast.
warm
celebration meal
Fits when plain language should connect food with the occasion
Careful The phrase lacks the sense of exceptional plenty.
formal
banquet
Fits when an elaborate ceremonial meal is intended
Careful Banquet sounds grand beside an informal family feast.
literary
repast
Fits when a meal needs an elevated historical tone
Careful Repast does not imply abundance or celebration.
playful
Fits when many discoveries reward exploration
Careful The phrase suggests valuable finds, not immediate sensory pleasure.
everyday
Fits when one source of strong pleasure is enough
Careful Delight loses the image of plentiful offerings.
formal
spectacle
Fits when visual richness is the main appeal
Careful A spectacle can overwhelm or disturb rather than please.
literary
cornucopia
Fits when variety and abundance deserve a vivid image
Careful Cornucopia can sound ornate in practical copy.
wedding feast
Neighbors prepared the wedding feast in the village hall.
harvest feast
Every household contributed bread to the harvest feast.
feast for the eyes
The restored ceiling is a feast for the eyes.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated
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