feed

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   introduce continuously

   feed carrots into a food processor

2. 2
   verb

   gratify

   feed one's eyes on a gorgeous view

3. 3
   verb

   profit from in an exploitatory manner

   They feed on your insecurity.

4. 4
   verb

   To give (someone or something) food to eat.

   Feed the dog every evening.

5. 5
   verb

   To eat (usually of animals).

   Spiders feed on gnats and flies.

6. 6
   verb

   To give (someone or something) to (someone or something else) as food.

   Don't feed him too much; he's still a baby.

7. 7
   verb

   To give to a machine to be processed.

   Feed the paper gently into the document shredder.

8. 8
   verb

   To supply (a machine) with something to be processed.

   We got interesting results after feeding the computer with the new data.

Etymology

From Middle English feden, from Old English fēdan (“to feed”), from Proto-West Germanic *fōdijan, from Proto-Germanic *fōdijaną (“to feed”), from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂- (“to guard, graze, feed”). Cognate with West Frisian fiede (“to nourish, feed”), Dutch voeden (“to feed”), Danish føde (“to bring forth, feed”), Swedish föda (“to bring forth, feed”), Icelandic fæða (“to feed”), and more distantly with Latin pāscō (“feed, nourish”, verb) through Indo-European. More at food, fodder.