consumer
nounattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//kənˈsjuːmə//
- United Kingdom//kənˈʃuːmə//
- Canada//kənˈsumɚ//
- Australia//kənˈsjʉːmə//
One who, or that which, consumes.
noun
- 1
One who, or that which, consumes.
But through the oligopoly, charcoal fuel proliferated throughout London's trades and industries. By the 1200s, brewers and bakers, tilemakers, glassblowers, pottery producers, and a range of other craftsmen all became hour-to-hour consumers of charcoal.
- 2
Someone who trades money for goods or services as an individual.
This new system favours the consumer over the producer.
Almost two-thirds of American consumers have at least one unspent gift card tucked away in a drawer, pocket, wallet or purse.
A second estimate of gross domestic product, released Thursday, showed that consumer spending was weaker in the first three months of the year than initially reported.
- 3
The consumer base of a product, service or business.
Our consumers are upwardly mobile and middle-class.
- 4
An organism (heterotroph) that uses other organisms for food in order to gain energy.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Latin con- Proto-Indo-European *upó Proto-Italic *supo Latin sub Latin sub- Proto-Indo-European *h₁em- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h₁émeti Proto-Italic *emō Latin emō Latin sūmō Latin cōnsūmōder. Old French consumerbor. Middle English consumen English consume Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusnom. Latin -āriusbor. Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz Proto-West Germanic *-ārī Old English -ere Middle English -ere English -er English consumer From consume + -er.
Forms
- plural
- consumers
consumer · One who, or that which, consumes.
consuming · Holding one's attention or interest.consumption · The act of eating, drinking or using.contact · The act of touching physically; being in close association.