feeder

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

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

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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

Check out these low cost, age-friendly ideas: Elementary School Add an inexpensive bird feeder to your home or apartment.

— Philly.com, "How to STEAM up your child's summer," 27 July 2017
Our window table provides a vista of a crystal clear mountain lake and a swarm of hummingbirds dining on sugar water from a feeder separated from our table by a pane of glass and a matter of inches.

— reid wilson, idahostatesman, "Get away from it all in Olympic National Park," 22 July 2017
Coyotes are opportunistic feeders and thrive in suburban, urban, and rural areas.

— mari a. schaefer, Philly.com, "Coyotes are stalking the Main Line, pet owners are warned," 18 July 2017
Recently, a homeowner 4 miles (6 kilometers) away captured photos of some 50 monkeys swarming his deer feeder.

— tamara lush, The Seattle Times, "Wild primates in Florida park: Monkey shenanigans on rise," 12 July 2017
One line of argument suggested that ancestral baleen whales were suction feeders and that this led to the loss of teeth and the subsequent evolution of baleen.

— brian switek, Scientific American Blog Network, "Paleo Profile: The Crown Tooth," 10 July 2017
The town also provided $18,000 for a vehicle for a feeder for riders from Indiana 55 to the Broadway Metro Express.

— carole carlson, Post-Tribune, "Bus service in jeopardy without local support," 7 July 2017
Near the plants are a nest box and also a nyjer seed feeder.

— ernie cowan outdoors, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Sit back and enjoy the show," 1 July 2017
Jim McManus and Paul Stevens started the Glenview Blaze Baseball program, a feeder program for both Glenbrook South and Loyola, in 1999.

— rich mayor, chicagotribune.com, "Spring games connect baseball players, youth with special needs," 29 June 2017

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

feeder Synonyms

Synonyms

affluent, bayou, branch, confluent, tributary, influent

Antonyms

distributary, effluent

Related Words

backwater; brook, brooklet, creek, rill, rivulet, run [chiefly Midland], streamlet; fountainhead, head, headstream, headwater, source

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.

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