feelernoun [ C usually plural ]
uk/ˈfiː.lər/us/ˈfiː.lɚ/one of the two long parts on the head of an insect and some other creatures with which it touches things in order to discover what is around it
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
The development & parts of insects
- antenna
- caterpillar
- chrysalis
- cocoon
- egg
- grub
- larva
- maggot
- nit
- proboscis
- pupa
- silkworm
- thoracic
- woodworm
- worm
Examples from literature
- It has two little "shells," two eyes, legs, and feelers.
- It will be noted that the spider has four pairs of legs and no feelers, whereas the ant has three pairs of legs and a pair of feelers.
- The head is remarkable for its large globular compound eyes, its short bristle-like feelers, and its very strong mandibles which bite up the bodies of the victims.
- They grow from six to twelve inches long and a couple of inches wide, with legs or feelers all along their sides, like the teeth of a pocket-comb.
- This hideous and loathsome-looking animal had projecting eyes that seemed to glare at one, very long and flexible antennae or feelers, and gigantic claws.
Idiom(s)
put out feelers