摄入 is a formal, transitive verb meaning 'to ingest' or 'to take in', most commonly used for food, nutrients, or substances entering the body—such as calories, vitamins, or pollutants. The character 摄 (shè) conveys 'to take, absorb, or control', while 入 (rù) means 'to enter'. Together, they emphasize the active process of something entering the body or system from outside.

This word appears frequently in health, nutrition, and medical contexts—for example, discussing daily recommended intake levels or risks of excessive exposure. It’s rarely used in casual speech; instead, everyday conversation favors simpler verbs like 吃 (chī, 'to eat') or 喝 (hē, 'to drink'). 摄入 can also extend metaphorically to data or information intake in technical fields, though this usage remains relatively specialized and formal.