feed

1 of 2

verb

fed ˈfed How to pronounce feed (audio) ; feeding

transitive verb

1
a
: to give food to
b
: to give as food
2
a
: to furnish something essential to the development, sustenance, maintenance, or operation of
reading feeds the mind
b
: to supply (material to be operated on) to a machine
c(1)
: to insert and deposit (something) repeatedly or continuously
feed quarters into a parking meter
(2)
: to insert and deposit something into (something)
Running out to feed the meter every hour doesn't work, because the meter will not permit more than one hour for a given car.T. R. Reid
3
: to produce or provide food for
4
5
a(1)
: to supply for use or consumption
(2)
b(1)
: to supply (a signal) to an electronic circuit
(2)
: to send (as by wire or satellite) to a transmitting station for broadcast
6
: to supply (a fellow actor) with cues and situations that make a role more effective
7
: to pass a ball or puck to (a teammate) especially for a shot at the goal

intransitive verb

1
a
: to consume food : eat
b
: prey
used with on, upon, or off
2
: to become nourished or satisfied or sustained as if by food
3
a
: to become channeled or directed
b
: to move into a machine or opening in order to be used or processed

feed

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: an act of eating
b
: meal
especially : a large meal
2
a
: food for livestock
specifically : a mixture or preparation for feeding livestock
b
: the amount given at each feeding
3
a
: material supplied (as to a furnace or machine)
b
: a mechanism by which the action of feeding is effected
c
: the motion or process of carrying forward the material to be operated upon (as in a machine)
d
: the act or process of feeding a signal (such as an audio or video transmission) to a station for broadcast
also : the signal being fed
a live satellite feed
e
: an Internet service in which updates from electronic information sources (such as blogs or social media accounts) are presented in a continuous stream
an RSS feed
also : the information presented by such a service
I changed my settings so that all of my cousin's posts would show up at the top of my feed.
4
: the action of passing a ball or puck to a team member who is in position to score

Examples of feed in a Sentence

Verb He was too weak to feed himself. We feed the plants with a special fertilizer twice a week. We fed the horses with apples, oats, and hay. The children fed apples to the horses. These supplies could feed a small army for a week. He doesn't earn enough to feed a family of four. helping to feed and clothe poor children They used the wood to feed the fire. The streams feed the creek. The motor is fed by an electrical current. Noun There's a jam in the paper feed. We had to cut off the main power feed. They're showing a live satellite feed of the event.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
The decisions on climate finance published today during COP 29, which will act feed into the final decisions from this climate conference, can add significant momentum to what is available for climate finance and action. Simi Thambi​, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024 Videos of awkward campaign encounters and stump jokes fed ridicule from the left. Riley Beggin, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
The explosion, involving a feed tank failure, killed one worker and triggered an evacuation of 26 people and a shelter-in-place for 1,500 people. Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 22 Nov. 2024 Artifact Uprising Color Series Photo Book $22 Make your bestie misty-eyed with a sentimental gift in the form of a photo book that showcases your favorite memories with them (or their Instagram feed). Malia Griggs, SELF, 21 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for feed 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English feden, from Old English fēdan; akin to Old English fōda food — more at food

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1575, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of feed was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near feed

Cite this Entry

“Feed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feed. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

feed

1 of 2 verb
fed ˈfed How to pronounce feed (audio) ; feeding
1
a
: to give food to
b
: to give as food
d
: prey entry 2 sense 1a
used with on, upon, or off
feeds on insects
2
a
: to supply with something necessary
b
: to supply (material to be operated on) to a machine
c
: to nourish or become nourished as if by food
3
a
: to supply for use
b
: to supply (a signal) to an electronic circuit or to a transmitter for broadcast

feed

2 of 2 noun
1
: meal entry 1
especially : a large meal
2
: food for livestock
3
: a mechanism by which feeding is carried out
4
a
: a signal fed to a transmitter
b
: an Internet service in which updates from electronic information sources (as blogs or social media accounts) are presented in a continuous stream
also : the information presented by such a service

Medical Definition

feed

1 of 2 verb
fed ˈfed How to pronounce feed (audio) ; feeding

transitive verb

1
a
: to give food to
b
: to give as food
2
: to produce or provide food for

intransitive verb

: to consume food : eat

feed

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: an act of eating
b
: meal
especially : a large meal
2
a
: food for livestock
specifically : a mixture or preparation for feeding livestock
b
: the amount given at each feeding

More from Merriam-Webster on feed

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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