[feel.ing] n (12c) 1 a (1): the one of the basic physical senses of which the skin contains the chief end organs and of which the sensations of touch and temperature are characteristic: touch (2): a sensation experienced through this sense b: generalized bodily consciousness or sensation c: appreciative or responsive awareness or recognition
2. a: an emotional state or reaction "had a kindly ~ toward the child" b pl: susceptibility to impression: sensitivity "the remark hurt her ~s" 3 a: the undifferentiated background of one's awareness considered apart from any identifiable sensation, perception, or thought b: the overall quality of one's awareness c: conscious recognition: sense
4. a: often unreasoned opinion or belief: sentiment b: presentiment
5: capacity to respond emotionally esp. with the higher emotions
6: the character ascribed to something: atmosphere
7. a: the quality of a work of art that conveys the emotion of the artist b: sympathetic aesthetic response 8: feel
4. syn feeling, emotion, affection, sentiment, passion mean a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation. feeling denotes any partly mental, partly physical response marked by pleasure, pain, attraction, or repulsion; it may suggest the mere existence of a response but imply nothing about the nature or intensity of it "the feelings that once moved me are gone". emotion carries a strong implication of excitement or agitation but, like feeling, encompasses both positive and negative responses "the drama portrays the emotions of adolescence". affection applies to feelings that are also inclinations or likings "a memoir of childhood filled with affection for her family". sentiment often implies an emotion inspired by an idea "her feminist sentiments are well known". passion suggests a very powerful or controlling emotion "revenge became his ruling passion".
[2]feeling adj (14c) 1 a: sentient, sensitive b: easily moved emotionally
2. obs: deeply felt
3: expressing emotion or sensitivity -- feel.ing.ly adv -- feel.ing.ness n