I. ˈfēd verb
( fed ˈfed ; feed·ing )
Etymology: Middle English feden, from Old English fēdan; akin to Old English fōda 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
II. noun
Date: 1576
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 (as an audio or video transmission) ; also : the signal being fed
4. : the action of passing a ball or puck to a team member who is in position to score