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Glite Dictionary
breakfast staple

breakfast staple

1.8
A common food people eat for breakfast, like toast or cereal
  • noun
  • /ˈbrɛkfəst ˈsteɪpəl/
translation icon : alimento básico de desayuno
  • Like every classic dish, each region has its own interpretation of Huevos Motulenos, a robust, layered breakfast staple from the Mexican town of Motul in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Examples

  • Orange juice is a breakfast staple in many households, often served alongside eggs and toast.

  • Fresh fruit is a common breakfast staple that provides essential vitamins and energy for the day ahead.

  • In many cultures, oatmeal is considered a nutritious breakfast staple that can be prepared in various ways.

Synonyms

breakfast food
vsbreakfast staple
5 1.0

Food people usually eat in the morning, like cereal or eggs

is considered essential to the morning meal rather than an ordinary choice

Surface Forms

breakfast staple singular
breakfast staples plural

Morphology

breakfast + staple

The meaning 'a food item commonly eaten or regarded as essential for breakfast' is directly and compositionally derived from 'breakfast' (the morning meal) + 'staple' (a basic or essential item). This noun–noun combination follows a transparent, cross-linguistically common pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The phrase breakfast staple comes from the idea of a staple as something basic that holds things together. Picture a food that is always on your breakfast table, so the phrase means a food that is 'essential' or often eaten at breakfast.