The kanji 食 primarily means "to eat," "food," or "meal." It encompasses the act of consuming food and also the food itself. It's a fundamental character relating to the sustenance and nourishment of life.

・On-yomi (音読み): ショク (shoku) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): た（べる） (taberu - to eat)

⚫︎ 食事 Translation: Meal; dining ⚫︎ 食べる Translation: To eat ⚫︎ 食料品 Translation: Groceries; food products

The kanji 食 is a pictograph. ⚫︎ It originally depicted a container with food inside, or potentially a person taking food in his mouth. ⚫︎ Over time, the form simplified, but the core meaning of eating and food remained.