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).
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.
a reaction or response to a particular process or activity: He got very little feedback from his speech.
evaluative information derived from such a reaction or response: to study the feedback from an audience survey.
Psychology. knowledge of the results of any behavior, considered as influencing or modifying further performance.Compare biofeedback.
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.
Origin of feedback
First recorded in 1915–20; noun use of verb phrase feed back
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
that part of the output signal fed back into the input
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
the whistling noise so produced
the effect of the product of a biological pathway on the rate of an earlier step in that pathway
the substance or reaction causing such an effect, such as the release of a hormone in a biochemical pathway
information in response to an inquiry, experiment, etcthere was little feedback from our questionnaire
verb, adverbfeed back
(tr)to return (part of the output of a system) to its input
to offer or suggest (information, ideas, etc) in reaction to an inquiry, experiment, etc
The return of a portion of the output of a process or system to the input, especially when used to maintain performance or to control a system or process.
The portion of the output so returned.
The return of information about the result of a process or activity.
The supply of an input to some process or system as a function of its output. See more at negative feedbackpositive feedback.
negative feedback
Feedback in which the output quantity or signal lowers the input quantity or signal. Negative feedback is used in natural and artificial regulatory mechanisms, as well as in the design of oscillators.
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.
Note
By extension, “feedback” is any response or information about the result of a process.
