/ dɪˈvaʊə(r); NAmE / verb [ vn ]
1.
to eat all of sth quickly, especially because you are very hungry
SYN gobble up
2.
to read or look at sth with great interest and enthusiasm :
She devoured everything she could lay her hands on: books, magazines and newspapers.
3.
( formal ) to destroy sb/sth
SYN engulf :
Flames devoured the house.
•
IDIOMS
- be devoured by sth
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French devorer , from Latin devorare , from de- down + vorare to swallow.