What does kibble mean?
Kibble most commonly means the small, hard pieces of food made for dogs. Owners may describe a dog's diet as dry kibble, put kibble in a bowl, or use the word for individual chunks of food. The word also has an older and still technical use for coarsely crushed grain or other material, particularly animal feed, and can be used as a verb: to kibble something is to crush or grind it into small, coarse pieces. In modern everyday use, however, dog food is overwhelmingly the dominant association. The noun is usually treated as a mass word, so speakers commonly say “a bowl of kibble” rather than “a kibble.” The verb often appears in the expression “kibble up.”
Small, hard pieces of food made for dogs, usually sold as a dry, granular food.
"The dog left a few pieces of kibble on the kitchen floor."
Usually a mass noun in contemporary usage.
Coarsely crushed grain or other material used as feed for animals.
"The farm mixed kibble with hay for the young cattle."
To crush or grind something into small, coarse pieces.
"The processor kibbles the grain into feed for the animals."
Chiefly used for food, grain, and animal feed.
Usually an invariant mass noun; the plural “kibbles” is uncommon but may be used for individual pieces.
"The puppy scattered kibble across the floor."
Today kibble usually means a dog's dinner, but the word also survives as a verb for reducing food or grain to coarse, hard pieces.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does kibble come from?
The modern word kibble developed from earlier British uses referring to coarse food or ground grain, including material suitable for feeding animals. Its later association with small, hard pieces of dog food became established during the 20th century, when such food was commonly described as kibbled or granulated. The verb “to kibble” continues the older sense of reducing material into coarse pieces.
Related word forms
How kibble is actually used
As a noun, kibble is ordinarily used as a mass noun in modern pet-related contexts. As a verb, it is most often used for food, grain, or similar material and describes a coarse rather than a fine or powdered result.
Easily confused with kibble
Kibble means small pieces of dog food, whereas kibbeh refers to a Levantine dish made from bulgur, minced meat, and spices.
Kibble can describe dog food or the act of coarsely crushing something, while a quibble is a minor verbal objection.