feed
feed definition
feed (fēd)
transitive verb fed, feeding feed′·ing
- to give food to; provide food for
- to provide as food to feed oats to horses
- to serve as food for
- to provide something necessary for the growth, development, or existence of; nourish; sustain to feed one's anger
- to provide (material to be used up, processed, etc.) to feed coal into a stove
- to provide with material feed the stove
- to provide satisfaction for; gratify to feed one's vanity
- Sports to pass (the ball, puck, etc.) to (a teammate intending to make a shot, try for a goal, etc.)
- Theater to supply (an actor) with (cue lines)
Etymology: ME feden < OE fedan < base of foda, food
intransitive verb
- to eat: said chiefly of animals
- to flow steadily, as into a machine for use, processing, etc.
noun
- food given to animals; fodder
- the amount of fodder given at one time
- the material fed into a machine
- the part of the machine supplying this material
- the supplying of this material
- Informal a meal
- Radio, TV a transmission by satellite, land lines, etc., as that sent by a network to individual stations for broadcast
feed Idioms
feed on
or feed upon- to take as food; eat: said chiefly of animals
- to get satisfaction, support, etc. from
off one's feed
Slang without appetite for food; somewhat sick
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