1. eat or drink; destroy; use up. consumecon*sume (k&obreve;n*sūm), v. t. [imp. & p. p. consumed (-sūmd); p. pr. & vb. n. consuming.] [l. consumere to take wholly or completely, to consume; con- + sumere to take; sub + emere to buy. 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. lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume. vi. 20 (rev. ver.). let me alone that i may consume them. xxxii. 10