Phrase guide

food pyramid

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A pyramid-shaped diagram in layers, where each layer represents a group of animals that feeds on the layer below.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The teacher reminded us to always start the food pyramid with the plants on the bottom.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Any pyramidal diagram giving advice on how to eat healthily, particularly those widely publicized by the United States government.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US

Qualifier: nutrition

Examples

  • The food pyramid surprised me by showing that we should eat lots of cheese.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

(ecology) a hierarchy of food chains with the principal predator at the top; each level preys on the level below

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: organic phenomenon

History

Etymology

So called from its pyramid shape.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: ravintopyramidi — pyramid-shaped diagram in layers representing groups of animals
  • Polish: piramida pokarmowa — pyramid-shaped diagram in layers representing groups of animals
  • Chinese Cantonese: 食物金字塔 (sik6 mat6 gam1 zi6 taap3) — pyramidal diagram giving advice for healthy eating
  • Chinese Mandarin: 食物金字塔 (shíwù jīnzìtǎ) — pyramidal diagram giving advice for healthy eating
  • Chinese Mandarin: 飲食金字塔 /饮食金字塔 (yǐnshí jīnzìtǎ) — pyramidal diagram giving advice for healthy eating
  • Finnish: ruokakolmio — pyramidal diagram giving advice for healthy eating
  • French: pyramide alimentaire — pyramidal diagram giving advice for healthy eating
  • German: Ernährungspyramide — pyramidal diagram giving advice for healthy eating
  • Polish: piramida żywieniowa — pyramidal diagram giving advice for healthy eating
  • Turkish: besin piramidi — pyramidal diagram giving advice for healthy eating