feeder

noun, often attributive feed·er \ ˈfē-dər \

Updated on: 22 May 2018

Definition of feeder

1 : one that feeds: such as

a : one that fattens livestock for slaughter

b : a device or apparatus for supplying food

2 : one that eats or takes nourishment; especially : an animal being fattened or one suitable for fattening

3 a : one that supplies, replenishes, or connects

b : tributary 1

c : a heavy wire conductor supplying electricity at some point of an electric distribution system (as from a substation)

d : branch; especially : a branch transportation line

e : a road that provides access to a major artery

See feeder defined for English-language learners

See feeder defined for kids

Examples of feeder in a Sentence

a pigeon feeder holding a bag of stale bread
the lake has several feeders that have their headwaters near the Canadian border

Recent Examples of feeder from the Web

After the woman hit the man and the car, the man flew over a wall and down the feeder road, according to reports.

— samantha ketterer, Houston Chronicle, "Driver fatally strikes man moving stalled car off roadway in Greenspoint," 17 May 2018
Unlike many other seed feeders, house finches do not feed their hatchlings high protein sources such as insects.

— ernie cowan, sandiegouniontribune.com, "House finches right at home raising family here," 17 May 2018
Further advances will combine underwater methods with recent developments in imaging and genetic sequencing to shed light on the role of mucous-mesh feeders in shaping the structure of the ocean’s microbial community.

— kelly sutherland, Smithsonian, "These Strange Ocean Creatures Trap Their Food In a Net of Mucus," 3 May 2018
Some bottom-feeders buy at 25 percent to 40 percent discounts, slap on some paint, tidy up and flip for a fat profit.

— kenneth r. harney, miamiherald, "Tired of the hassle of selling your home? Try this all-cash alternative | Miami Herald," 25 Apr. 2018
The Milwaukee Brewers continued to fatten up on the bottom feeders Tuesday night.

— tom haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Brewers 5, Royals 2: Winning streak reaches seven games, longest since 2015 season," 24 Apr. 2018
The blues stroke the air and hundreds of feeders for cardinals, hummingbirds, orioles, finches, squirrels, woodpeckers and other creatures dangle from racks.

— aaron gilbreath, Longreads, "The Red Caddy," 24 Apr. 2018
Keith Wade said the leak came from a one-inch main feeder line headed into Pacific Auto Repair.

— benjy egel, sacbee, "Gas leak plugged, Franklin Boulevard reopens | The Sacramento Bee," 4 Apr. 2018
More than a quarter of our households have installed feeders and bird houses in our backyards and almost 10 percent of us have bought bird identification books and binoculars and have taken trips specifically to see birds.

— anna silman, The Cut, "I Truly Cannot Believe That Canada Still Does Not Have a National Bird," 4 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'feeder.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of feeder

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

feeder Synonyms

FEEDER Defined for English Language Learners

feeder

noun

Definition of feeder for English Language Learners

: a device for supplying food to animals
: a person who supplies food for animals
: a road, railway, etc., that connects to a larger road, railway, etc.

Learn More about feeder

See words that rhyme with feeder Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for feeder Spanish Central: Translation of feeder Nglish: Translation of feeder for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up feeder? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

feeder

Definition of feeder

Examples of feeder in a Sentence

Recent Examples of feeder from the Web

First Known Use of feeder

feeder Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

FEEDER Defined for English Language Learners

feeder

Definition of feeder for English Language Learners

Learn More about feeder

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

cajole

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

'Folksonomy': Let’s Get Organized

12 Words from All Over the Map

'Ingenious' and 'Ingenuous': More Than a Typo

A Matter-of-Fact Look at 'Deadpan'

Ask the Editors

Ghost Word

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

Words Used by Nabokov Quiz

True or False?

Word Winder's CrossWinder

'Folksonomy': Let’s Get Organized

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

12 Words from All Over the Map

Trending: Melania Trump Undergoes 'Embolization'

Ghost Word

feeder

Definition of feeder

Examples of feeder in a Sentence

Recent Examples of feeder from the Web

First Known Use of feeder

feeder Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

FEEDER Defined for English Language Learners

feeder

Definition of feeder for English Language Learners

Learn More about feeder

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

'Folksonomy': Let’s Get Organized

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

12 Words from All Over the Map

Trending: Melania Trump Undergoes 'Embolization'

Ghost Word