consume

Compared meaning: to eat or use something up completely (verb).

比较义项：把食物（或其他事物）吃光、用尽（动词）。

• consume 本词

  Neutral, more formal or written word; used for food but also broadly for resources, time or energy being used up completely, without implying speed or manner.

  consume 语气中性、偏书面；除食物外也常用于资源、时间、能量等的耗费或用尽，不强调进食的方式或速度。

  Large factories consume huge amounts of electricity every single day.

  大型工厂每天都要消耗大量电力。

• devour

  Informal, vivid word specifically about eating, emphasizing speed and hunger; often used to picture someone eating quickly and eagerly.

  devour 语气生动、口语化，专指“吃”这个动作，强调速度快、食欲旺盛，常用来形象地描述某人狼吞虎咽地吃东西。

  The puppy devoured its food in under a minute.

  小狗不到一分钟就把食物狼吞虎咽地吃光了。

Consume and devour both mean to eat or use something up. Consume is neutral and formal, used for food but also broadly for resources, time, or energy, without suggesting speed. Devour is informal and vivid, used only for eating, stressing speed and hunger.

这两个词都能表示“把某样东西吃光/用光”，但 consume 语气中性、偏书面，既可用于食物也可用于资源、时间等；devour 语气生动、口语化，只用于“吃”这个动作，强调速度快、吃相急切。两者搭配和语域不同，学习者容易混淆。