eater
UK: ˈiːtə | US: ˈiːtər
n. a person or animal that consumes food
n. (informal) someone who eats in a particular manner (e.g., "a messy eater")
The word "eater" combines the verb "eat" (from Old English etan, meaning "to consume food") with the agentive suffix "-er," which denotes a person or thing performing an action. This suffix traces back to Old English -ere, borrowed from Latin -ārius. The construction is straightforward: "one who eats." Over time, it has retained its core meaning while occasionally adopting informal nuances (e.g., describing eating habits).
He’s a slow eater, always the last to finish his meal.
Birds are opportunistic eaters, feeding on seeds and insects.
The restaurant caters to adventurous eaters with its exotic menu.
My cat is a picky eater and refuses most brands of food.
As a competitive eater, he can consume dozens of hot dogs in minutes.