n.
Pronunciation: ' f ē d
Function: verb
Inflected Form: fed \ ' fed \ ; feed · ing
Etymology: Middle English feden, from Old English f ē dan; akin to Old English f ō da food ― more at FOOD
Date: before 12th century
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 feed s the mind> b : to supply (material to be operated on) to a machine
3 : to produce or provide food for
4 a : SATISFY , GRATIFY b : SUPPORT , ENCOURAGE
5 a (1) : to supply for use or consumption (2) : CHANNEL , ROUTE 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