Consume, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Consumed; p.pr. & vb.n. Consuming.]
Etymology: [L. consumere to take wholly or complectely, to consume; con- + sumere to take; sub + emere to buv. See Redeem.]
To destroy, as by decomposition, dissipation, waste, or fire; to use up; to expend; to waste; to burn up; to eat up; to devour. If he were putting to my house the brand That shall consume it. Shak. Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume. Matt. vi. 20 (Rev. Ver. ). Let me alone . . . that I may consume them. Ex. xxxii. 10.
Syn. -- To destroy; swallow up; ingulf; absorb; waste; exhaust; spend; expend; squander; lavish; dissipate.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Consume, v. i.
To waste away slowly. Therefore, let Renedick, like covered fire, Consume away in sighs. Shak.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for consume; he lists it under absorb, burn.
Where he writes about it:
A substance is consumed which is destructively appropriated by some other substance, being, or agency, so that it ceases to exist or to be recognized as existing in its original condition; fuel is consumed in the fire, food in the body; consume is also applied to whatever is removed from the market for individual use; as, silk and woolen goods are consumed. — from absorb