Note: The translation for this entry is currently under quality review. Some content is temporarily displayed in English only.
feed
/ˈfiːd/
This word carries a sense of dependency and sustenance. When applied to living beings, it often implies a caretaking role or a power imbalance, as the one being fed relies on the provider for survival. It is more functional and routine than the word nourish, which suggests health and growth.
In technical or industrial settings, the term shifts toward a mechanical flow. It describes the steady, controlled movement of a substance into a mechanism, evoking an image of a continuous stream or a rhythmic input that keeps a system operational.
Countable when referring to specific types of animal diets (different feeds). Uncountable when referring to the general substance of animal food.
Meanings
To give food to a person, animal, or plant.
She spent the morning feeding the baby.|
To provide a machine or system with a necessary supply of material or data.
The operator fed the paper into the printer.|
To eat a particular type of food as a primary source of nourishment.
Many birds feed on insects during the summer.|
To provide someone with a constant stream of information or emotions.
The media feeds the public a steady diet of sensationalist news.|