feeler

American  

[fee-ler] / ˈfi lər /

noun

1. a person or thing that feels.

2. a proposal, remark, hint, etc., designed to bring out the opinions or purposes of others.

   Interested in an accord, both labor and management were putting out feelers.

3. Zoology. an organ of touch, as an antenna or a tentacle.

4. Also called feeler gauge.  Engineering. a gauge having several blades of known thickness, used for measuring clearances.

5. Nautical. a device for indicating that the lead of a mechanical sounding device has come to the bottom.

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feeler British  

/ ˈfiːlə /

noun

1. a person or thing that feels

2. an organ in certain animals, such as an antenna or tentacle, that is sensitive to touch

3. a remark designed to probe the reactions or intentions of other people

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feeler Scientific  

/ fē′lər /

1. A slender body part used for touching or sensing. The antennae of insects and the barbels of catfish are feelers.

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feeler Idioms  

1. see put out feelers.

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Etymology

Origin of feeler

First recorded in 1520–30; feel + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Last year, the British dance musician known as Fred Again.. put out a feeler to the Nashville-based alt-rock band Rainbow Kitten Surprise about a possible collaboration.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 6, 2025

We put a feeler out to see whether he was interested.

From Salon • May 28, 2024

“It’s always so exciting when you see someone with such incredible talent and screen presence who then is also such a deep thinker and feeler as a person,” Lister-Jones said.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 21, 2021

Mr. Whitehouse’s staff recently met with Exxon lobbyists, but the senator said, “The meeting was more just an exploratory feeler to see about further conversations.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 30, 2016

Each one is angry at the other for pulling his feeler off.

From "Taste of Salt: A Story of Modern Haiti" by Frances Temple

Related Words

• overture