self-feed

American

[self-feed, self-] / ˌsɛlfˈfid, ˈsɛlf- /

verb (used with object)

Agriculture.

self-fed, self-feeding

to provide a supply of food to (animals) so as to allow them to eat as much and as often as they want.

Etymology

Origin of self-feed

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This tool holding or driving spindle is threaded at its back end, passing through a nut which causes it to self-feed from left to right, or in other words, towards the work table.

From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Rose, Joshua

For this self-feed plan it is claimed that both feed and labor are saved, thus reducing production costs.

From Pratt's Practical Pointers on the Care of Livestock and Poultry by Pratt Food Co.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023