I. ˈfēdə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English feder, federe, from feden to feed + -er, -ere -er — more at feed I
1. : one that gives or provides food or nourishment: as
a. : one that fattens cattle for slaughter
b. : a device or apparatus for supplying food (as to an animal)
an automatic poultry feeder
a calf feeder
c. : a normal pigeon used as a foster parent for the young of short-beaked pigeons
2. : one that eats or is notable for eating
the man was a prodigious feeder
as
a. obsolete : one dependent on another for food (as a servant)
b. : an animal being fattened or one suitable for fattening — compare stocker
3. : one that ministers (as to another's welfare, mind, or passions): as
a. : one that incites
the feeder of … riots — Shakespeare
b. archaic : an academic tutor or crammer
4.
a. : one that feeds material into or through a machine or device that operates upon it or consumes it: as
(1) : a device that supplies crushed stone to a conveyor
(2) : a device for supplying coal automatically to a furnace
(3) : a worker who charges lead ore and other substances into a blast furnace
(4) : a worker who feeds aluminum sheets into a rolling mill
b. : a strong discharge of gas from a fissure in a mine
c. : feedhead
5. : a small lateral lode connecting with the main lode of a mine
6.
a. : one that replenishes or connects with and supplies something : a source of supply for the maintenance or effectiveness of something else of the same general kind
farm baseball teams that act as feeders for the major-league teams
it was thought that Broadway had become a feeder for Hollywood
b. : tributary
c. or feeder line : a branch transportation line: as
(1) also feeder airline : a local-service airline connecting smaller communities with larger terminal cities and trunk lines
(2) : a local bus line that runs into a terminal used by a trunk line
d.
(1) : a heavy wire conductor supplying electricity at some point of any system of electric distribution (as from a substation to a distribution point)
(2) : a conductor connecting a major unit of a radio transmitting or receiving apparatus with another ; especially : the line from the aerial to the receiver or transmitter
e. : feeder road
7.
a. : a part in a play designed as a foil for one more important
b. : an actor playing such a part : one who feeds a fellow actor
8. : an assorter in a garment factory
9. chiefly Britain : a baby's bib
II. adjective
1. : being, acting, or serving as a feeder
a feeder root
a feeder device
feeder air service
a feeder belt
a feeder cable
a feeder farmer
2. : suitable for fattening
feeder cattle