Pabulum

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  pabulum \pab"u*lum\, n. [L., akin to pascere to pasture. See
     {Pastor}.]
     1. The means of nutriment to animals or plants; food;
        nourishment. [WordNet sense 1]
  
     Syn: comestible, edible, eatable, victual, victuals.


          [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]
  
     2. Hence: That which feeds or sustains, such as fuel for a
        fire; especially, that upon which the mind or soul is
        nourished; intellectual sustenance; as, intellectual
        pabulum. [WordNet sense 2]
  
     Syn: food for thought, intellectual nourishment.
          [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]
  
     3. Trite or simplistic writing, sentiments, etc.; pablum[3].
        [PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  pabulum
       n 1: any substance that can be used as food [syn: {comestible}, {edible},
             {eatable}, {victual}, {victuals}]
       2: insipid intellectual nourishment