devours

Devours is a term used to describe the act of eating something rapidly and with great hunger, often to the point of consuming it entirely. This can be applied to both literal consumption of food and metaphorical consumption of abstract concepts. In a literal sense, a hungry animal might devour its prey, or a person might devour a large meal. The word implies a forceful and often messy process, suggesting that the subject is being completely taken in.

Metaphorically, "devours" can be used to describe an intense absorption or obsession with something. For example, someone might be said to devour books, meaning they read them very quickly and with great interest. Similarly, a nation might devour resources, indicating a rapid and extensive use of them. This figurative usage highlights the intensity and completeness of the action, much like the literal act of eating. The context in which "devours" is used typically clarifies whether it refers to physical eating or a more abstract form of consumption. It carries connotations of strong desire and a lack of restraint in the process.