feeder

American  

[fee-der] / ˈfi dər /

noun

1. a person or thing that supplies food or feeds something.

2. a bin or boxlike device from which farm animals may eat, especially such a device designed to allow a number of chickens to feed simultaneously or to release a specific amount of feed at regular intervals.

3. a person or thing that takes food or nourishment.

4. a livestock animal that is fed an enriched diet to fatten it for market.

5. a person or device that feeds a machine, printing press, etc.

6. a tributary stream.

7. bird feeder.

8. feeder line.

9. feeder road.

10. Electricity. Also a conductor, or group of conductors, connecting primary equipment in an electric power system.

11. British. a baby's bib.

12. Theater Slang. straight man.

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adjective

1. being, functioning as, or serving as a feeder.

2. pertaining to livestock to be fattened for market.

feeder British  

/ ˈfiːdə /

noun

1. a person or thing that feeds or is fed

2. a child's feeding bottle or bib

3. agriculture a head of livestock being fattened for slaughter

4. a person or device that feeds the working material into a system or machine

5. a tributary channel, esp one that supplies a reservoir or canal with water

6. 1. a road, service, etc, that links secondary areas to the main traffic network

   2. ( as modifier )

      a feeder bus

7. 1. a transmission line connecting an aerial to a transmitter or receiver

   2. a power line for transmitting electrical power from a generating station to a distribution network

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Etymology

Origin of feeder

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; feed, -er ¹

Example Sentences

PPB, based in Conshohocken, Pa., operates a platform that includes feeder funds to facilitate investments in nonpublic asset classes such as private equity and real estate.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

However, when the concentration reaches 2%, they visit the feeder about half as often.

From Science Daily • Mar. 25, 2026

When a squirrel takes on your bird feeder, it’s using the same evolutionary tool kit your primate ancestors developed.

From Slate • Jan. 25, 2026

"The problem is not so much that Eze and Guehi have gone. They've not been replaced. Palace in this league will be the feeder for the bigger clubs."

From BBC • Jan. 18, 2026

A chickadee left the feeder and settled on her fingertips.

From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker

Related Words

• grower
• laborer
• peasant
• producer
• rancher