feed

noun

UK /fiːd/

Word Forms

singular	feed
plural	feeds

1
countable Britishan occasion on which you give milk to a baby
have a feed:
She had her last feed at two o’clock.
give someone a feed:
I’ll give him another feed just before we leave.
Synonyms and related words
Feeding and caring for a baby
baby milk
baby talk
babywearing
2
countable/uncountable food given to animals
Hay is used as winter feed for the cows.
Synonyms and related words
Food for animals
birdseed
bone meal
corn
3
uncountable a chemical substance used for making plants grow well
Synonyms and related words
Soil fertility and fertilization
compost
compost
desertification
4
countable the part of a machine through which you put things into the machine
Synonyms and related words
Parts of machines and machinery
ancillary
ball bearing
bearing
5
singular informal old-fashioneda meal
He looks as though he could do with a good feed.
Synonyms and related words
General words for meals or food
food
meal
cooking

feed

noun

US /fid/

Word Forms

singular	feed
plural	feeds

1
countable/uncountable food given to animals
Hay is used as winter feed for the cows.
Synonyms and related words
Food for animals
birdseed
bone meal
corn
2
uncountable a chemical substance used for making plants grow well
Synonyms and related words
Soil fertility and fertilization
compost
compost
desertification
3
countable the part of a machine through which you put things into the machine
Synonyms and related words
Parts of machines and machinery
ancillary
ball bearing
bearing
4
countable Britisha baby’s feeding
Synonyms and related words
Feeding and caring for a baby
baby milk
baby talk
babywearing
5
singular informal old-fashioneda meal
He looks as though he could do with a good feed.
Synonyms and related words
General words for meals or food
food
meal
cooking

feed

verb

UK /fiːd/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	feed
he/she/it	feeds
present participle	feeding
past tense	fed
past participle	fed

1
transitive to give food to a person or an animal
We’ve been feeding the ducks on the river.
feed someone/something on something:
The dogs were fed on raw meat.
feed something to someone/something:
The leftover food is fed to the pigs.
properly fed:
All the children will be properly fed and cared for.
Synonyms and related words
To provide food or accommodation
accommodate
serve
cater
1. 1a
  transitive to provide people with food so that they can live
  The money he brings home isn’t enough to feed a family of five.
  More food supplies are needed to feed the starving population.
  Synonyms and related words
  To provide food or accommodation
  accommodate
  serve
  cater
2. 1b
  intransitive/transitive if a baby feeds, or if you feed it, the baby drinks milk
  Young babies need to feed every three to four hours.
  She sat down to feed the baby.
  Synonyms and related words
  Feeding and caring for a baby
  baby milk
  baby talk
  babywearing
3. 1c
  intransitive if an animal feeds, it looks for food and eats it
  The birds return here to feed at dusk.
  Synonyms and related words
  To eat - of animals
  feed on
  feed
  hunt
4. 1d
  transitive to put a substance onto a plant or into the soil to make a plant grow well
  The plants should be fed and watered regularly.
  feed something with something:
  Feed tomato plants with a general fertilizer once a week.
  Synonyms and related words
  Gardening
  aerate
  bed out
  bonsai
2
transitive to provide a supply of something for a person or a machine
feed someone with something:
He’s been feeding the police with information about terrorist activities.
feed something into something:
Information is fed into the computer and stored in a database.
feed something to someone/something:
the main arteries that feed blood to the brain
Synonyms and related words
To provide something needed or missing
provide
supply
equip
3
transitive to push something into a machine, especially slowly and gently
feed something into something:
She saw him feeding documents into the shredder.
feed something through (something):
Feed the fabric gently through the machine.
feed something with something:
I fed the parking meter with my remaining change.
Synonyms and related words
To put something inside something
bag
bed
bottle
4
transitive to make a feeling stronger
The newspapers are feeding public anxiety about contaminated food.
Synonyms and related words
To have an effect on someone’s emotions or attitudes
influence
decide
lead to
5
transitive to provide what is necessary
feed a habit:
Many young drug users turn to crime to feed their habit.
feed an addiction:
Her son was using his dinner money to feed his gambling addiction.
Synonyms and related words
To provide something needed or missing
provide
supply
equip

phrases

feed your face

feed someone a line

phrasal verbs

feed back

feed off

feed on

feed up

feed

verb

US /fid/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	feed
he/she/it	feeds
present participle	feeding
past tense	fed
past participle	fed

1
transitive to give food to a person or an animal
We’ve been feeding the ducks on the river.
feed someone/something on something:
The dogs were fed on raw meat.
feed something to someone/something:
The leftover food is fed to the pigs.
properly fed:
All the children will be properly fed and cared for.
Synonyms and related words
To provide food or accommodation
accommodate
serve
cater
1. 1a
  transitive to provide people with food so that they can live
  The money he brings home isn’t enough to feed a family of five.
  Food supplies are needed to feed the starving population.
  Synonyms and related words
  To provide food or accommodation
  accommodate
  serve
  cater
2. 1b
  intransitive/transitive if a baby feeds, or if you feed it, the baby drinks milk
  Young babies need to feed every three to four hours.
  She sat down to feed the baby.
  Synonyms and related words
  Feeding and caring for a baby
  baby milk
  baby talk
  babywearing
3. 1c
  intransitive if an animal feeds, it looks for food and eats it
  The birds return here to feed at dusk.
  Synonyms and related words
  To eat - of animals
  feed on
  feed
  hunt
4. 1d
  transitive to put a substance onto a plant or into the soil to make a plant grow well
  The plants should be fed and watered regularly.
  feed something with something:
  Feed tomato plants with a general fertilizer once a week.
  Synonyms and related words
  Gardening
  aerate
  bed out
  bonsai
2
transitive to provide a supply of something for a person or a machine
feed someone with something:
He’s been feeding the police with information about terrorist activities.
feed something into something:
Information is fed into the computer and stored in a database.
feed something to someone/something:
the main arteries that feed blood to the brain
Synonyms and related words
To provide something needed or missing
provide
supply
equip
3
transitive to push something into a machine, especially slowly and gently
feed something into something:
She saw him feeding documents into the shredder.
feed something through (something):
Feed the fabric gently through the machine.
feed something with something:
I fed the parking meter with my remaining change.
Synonyms and related words
To put something inside something
bag
bed
bottle
4
transitive to make a feeling stronger
The newspapers are feeding public anxiety about contaminated food.
Synonyms and related words
To have an effect on someone’s emotions or attitudes
influence
decide
lead to
5
transitive to provide what is necessary
feed a habit:
Many young drug users turn to crime to feed their habit.
feed an addiction:
Her son was using his lunch money to feed his gambling addiction.
Synonyms and related words
To provide something needed or missing
provide
supply
equip

phrases

feed your face

feed someone a line

phrasal verbs

feed back

feed off

feed on

feed ​‌

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feed ​‌‌‌

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