̈ɪfi:d v. & n. --v. (past
and past part. fed) 1 tr. a supply
with food. b put food
into the mouth of. 2 tr. a
give as food,
esp. to animals. b
graze (cattle). 3 tr.
serve as food
for. 4 intr. (usu. foll. by on) (esp. of animals, or colloq. of people)
take food;
eat. 5 tr.
nourish;
make grow. 6 a tr.
maintain supply of
raw material,
fuel,
etc., to (a
fire,
machine, etc.). b tr. (foll. by into) supply (material) to a machine etc. c intr. (often foll. by into) (of a
river etc.)
flow into
another body of
water. d tr.
insert further coins into (a meter) to
continue its function, validity, etc. 7 intr. (foll. by on) a be nourished
by. b
derive benefit from. 8 tr.
use (land) as
pasture. 9 tr. Theatr. sl. supply (an
actor etc.) with cues. 10 tr.
Sport send passes to (a player) in a ball-game. 11 tr.
gratify (vanity etc.). 12 tr.
provide (advice,
information, etc.)
to. --n. 1 an
amount of food, esp. for animals or infants. 2 the
act or an
instance of feeding; the giving of food. 3 colloq. a meal. 4
pasturage;
green crops. 5 a a supply of raw material to a machine etc. b the
provision of
this or a
device for
it. 6 the
charge of a
gun. 7 Theatr. sl. an actor
who supplies another with cues. øfeed
back produce feedback. feed the fishes 1 meet one's
death by drowning. 2 be
seasick. feeding-bottle a
bottle with a
teat for feeding infants. feed up 1
fatten. 2
satiate (cf.
fed up (see FED)). øøfeedable adj. [OE fedan f. Gmc]