forage

[ fawr-ij, for- ]

/ ˈfɔr ɪdʒ, ˈfɒr- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR forage ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

food for horses or cattle; fodder; provender.

the seeking or obtaining of such food.

the act of searching for provisions of any kind.

a raid.

verb (used without object), for·aged, for·ag·ing.

to wander or go in search of provisions.

to search about; seek; rummage; hunt: He went foraging in the attic for old mementos.

to make a raid.

verb (used with object), for·aged, for·ag·ing.

to collect forage from; strip of supplies; plunder: to forage the countryside.

to supply with forage.

to obtain by foraging.

Nearby words

for-, for-instance, for-profit, for., fora, forage, forage cap, forage mite, foraging, foraging ant, foraker

Origin of forage

1275–1325; Middle English < Old French fourrage, derivative of fuerre fodder (from Germanic)

Related forms

for·ag·er, nounun·for·aged, adjective

Synonym study

1. See feed.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for forage

Make him forage, dig it out of the ice, catch the occasional live trout.
A Eulogy for Gus, Central Park’s Polar Bear Man of Mystery|Malcolm Jones|August 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
They raise cattle on the grassland, and sow the other half in wheat and forage for the herd.
The Texas Drought Seen Firsthand from the Eyes of Ranchers|Malcolm Jones|August 9, 2012|DAILY BEAST
They go to the grocery store dumpster to forage for food, find potatoes, butter, and celery.
Food Writers Share Thanksgiving Stories|Jessica Ferri|November 24, 2011|DAILY BEAST
If he does venture ashore, he goes only a few rods from the bank and then only to forage.
The Congo and Coasts of Africa|Richard Harding Davis

The practice of allowing them rations and forage was discontinued.
The Life of George Washington, Vol. 3 (of 5)|John Marshall
Stopping for breakfast, we borrowed a room and despatched a youngster to forage for a table and eggs.
Three Years in Western China|Alexander Hosie
Both parties went for wood and forage behind their own camps, neither interrupting the other.
The History of Rome, Books 37 to the End|Titus Livius
There are no household cares for him; no nest to build, no eggs to warm, no brood to forage for.
In the West Country|Francis A. Knight

British Dictionary definitions for forage

forage

/ (ˈfɒrɪdʒ) /

noun

food for horses or cattle, esp hay or straw

the act of searching for food or provisions

military a raid or incursion

verb

to search (the countryside or a town) for food, provisions, etc

(intr) military to carry out a raid

(tr) to obtain by searching about

(tr) to give food or other provisions to

(tr) to feed (cattle or horses) with such food

Derived Forms

forager, noun

Word Origin for forage

C14: from Old French fourrage, probably of Germanic origin; see food, fodder

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

forage

noun

verb (used without object), for·aged, for·ag·ing.

verb (used with object), for·aged, for·ag·ing.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of forage

Related forms

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for forage

British Dictionary definitions for forage

forage

noun

verb

Derived Forms

Word Origin for forage