feedback

American  

[feed-bak] / ˈfidˌbæk /

noun

1. Electronics.

   1. the process of returning part of the output of a circuit, system, or device to the input, either to oppose the input negative feedback or to aid the input positive feedback.

   2. acoustic feedback.

2. the furnishing of data concerning the operation or output of a machine to an automatic control device or to the machine itself, so that subsequent or ongoing operations of the machine can be altered or corrected.

3. a reaction or response to a particular process or activity.

   He got very little feedback from his speech.

4. evaluative information derived from such a reaction or response.

   to study the feedback from an audience survey.

5. Psychology. knowledge of the results of any behavior, considered as influencing or modifying further performance.

6. Biology. a self-regulatory biological system, as in the synthesis of some hormones, in which the output or response affects the input, either positively or negatively.

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feedback British  

/ ˈfiːdˌbæk /

noun

1. 1. the return of part of the output of an electronic circuit, device, or mechanical system to its input, so modifying its characteristics. In negative feedback a rise in output energy reduces the input energy; in positive feedback an increase in output energy reinforces the input energy

   2. that part of the output signal fed back into the input

2. the return of part of the sound output by a loudspeaker to the microphone or pick-up so that a high-pitched whistle is produced

3. the whistling noise so produced

4. 1. the effect of the product of a biological pathway on the rate of an earlier step in that pathway

   2. the substance or reaction causing such an effect, such as the release of a hormone in a biochemical pathway

5. information in response to an inquiry, experiment, etc

   there was little feedback from our questionnaire

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verb

1. (tr) to return (part of the output of a system) to its input

2. to offer or suggest (information, ideas, etc) in reaction to an inquiry, experiment, etc

feedback Scientific  

/ fēd′băk′ /

1. The supply of an input to some process or system as a function of its output.

2. See more at negative feedback positive feedback

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feedback Cultural  

1. A process in which a system regulates itself by monitoring its own output. That is, it “feeds back” part of its output to itself. Feedback is used to control machines; a heating system, for example, uses a thermostat to monitor and adjust its output. Feedback is also used by the human brain to control various muscles and joints.

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Discover More

Feedback is usually a feature of automation.

By extension, “feedback” is any response or information about the result of a process.

Etymology

Origin of feedback

First recorded in 1915–20; noun use of verb phrase feed back

Example Sentences

"It's not the song I wanted to come out with, but it's done a lot and I appreciate all of the feedback I've been getting from it."

From BBC

He adds: "Nerys is an excellent driver for us... one of our highest performing drivers and one that we get some of the best feedback on."

From BBC

The company is also collecting feedback from female customers, hosting in-person events—like a coming watch party for “The Bachelorette”—and featuring young women in ads and paying users such as Alcaraz.

From The Wall Street Journal

The purest form of feedback, he said, comes from one-on-one interactions in real life.

From The Wall Street Journal

The “Toy Story” director had the loudest voice and final say among a group of directors known as the braintrust who provided feedback on every project at the company that created computer animation.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• assessment
• comment
• criticism
• evaluation
• observation
• reaction