misfeed

1 of 2

verb

mis·​feed ˌmis-ˈfēd How to pronounce misfeed (audio)
misfed ˌmis-ˈfed How to pronounce misfeed (audio) ; misfeeding

transitive + intransitive

: to feed wrongly
… pet owners who mishandle and misfeed the snakes …Elizabeth Weise
especially : to fail to properly feed (material, such as paper or ammunition) or be fed through a machine or mechanism
… printing problems caused many ballots to misfeed through the scanning machine. Charles Tomlinson
If it only misfeeds occasionally, it is probably an ammo problem … Hammond Satterfield

misfeed

2 of 2

noun

mis·​feed ˈmis-ˌfēd How to pronounce misfeed (audio)
plural misfeeds
: a malfunction in which a material (such as paper or ammunition) fails to be fed properly through a mechanism
… a high-speed commercial scanner designed to reduce paper jams and misfeeds.Benjamin Jacobs
Misfeeds may also be the result or improperly sized ammunition being loaded.Robert E. Walker

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1877, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1886, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of misfeed was in 1877

Dictionary Entries Near misfeed

Cite this Entry

“Misfeed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misfeed. Accessed 11 Oct. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!