forage

noun for·age \ ˈfȯr-ij , ˈfär- \

Updated on: 22 May 2018

Definition of forage

1 : food for animals especially when taken by browsing or grazing

The grass serves as forage for livestock.

[²forage]

: the act of foraging : search for provisions

They made forages to find food.

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Examples of forage in a Sentence

The grass serves as forage for livestock.

Recent Examples of forage from the Web

If the bird remains on the beach, which lacks the shallow water habitat where the birds usually forage for food, Boykin said his staff would keep an eye on it for signs of distress.

— jenny staletovich, miamiherald, "Something besides nudists showed up at Haulover Beach: a rare flamingo | Miami Herald," 16 May 2018
Those findings upend long-held ecologists' notions, based on studies of species whose numbers were declining, that those predators require highly specific places to forage and breed, the essay says.

— bruce henderson, charlotteobserver, "Alligators, sharks, coyotes reclaiming their old haunts. Get used to it, study says. | Charlotte Observer," 8 May 2018
In some fisheries, particularly small lakes with limited habitat and forage, bass populations can become overpopulated and stunted.

— shannon tompkins, Houston Chronicle, "Proposed bass changes a keeper for Texas anglers," 31 Jan. 2018
The rule was part of a shift in DNR fisheries management strategy on the big pond in an era of declining forage fish.

— paul a. smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Smith: There's no point in rushing when there's a big laker on the line," 28 Apr. 2018
Tiny crustaceans like copepods, which are also high consumers of phytoplankton, can make good meals for forage fish, which are then eaten by fish like salmon.

— ted sickinger, OregonLive.com, "Police looking for shooter after one injured in Keizer," 22 Apr. 2018
In many cases, such as smaller waters or those with limited habitat or forage bases, removing smaller fish can trigger improvements in the fishery.

— shannon tompkins, San Antonio Express-News, "New rules promise earlier, bigger seasons for anglers, hunters," 5 Apr. 2018
This allows these highly territorial animals to live and forage more closely.

— New York Times, "To the Vole Cave!," 11 Jan. 2018
Pesticides, parasites, lack of flowers and other forage, erratic weather, and disease have caused drastic declines in bee populations.

— junot díaz, The New Yorker, "The Maraschino Mogul’s Secret Life," 17 Apr. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of forage

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from fuerre, foer fodder, straw, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German fuotar food, fodder — more at food

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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