Feeding

Feed Feed (f[=e]d), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Fed} (f[e^]d); p. pr. & vb. n. {Feeding}.] [AS. f[=e]dan, fr. f[=o]da food; akin to OS. f[=o]dian, OFries. f[=e]da, f[=o]da, D. voeden, OHG. fuottan, Icel. f[ae][eth]a, Sw. f["o]da, Dan. f["o]de. [root]75. See {Food}.] 1. To give food to; to supply with nourishment; to satisfy the physical huger of. [1913 Webster]

If thine enemy hunger, feed him. --Rom. xii. 20. [1913 Webster]

Unreasonable creatures feed their young. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. To satisfy; gratify or minister to, as any sense, talent, taste, or desire. [1913 Webster]

I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Feeding him with the hope of liberty. --Knolles. [1913 Webster]

3. To fill the wants of; to supply with that which is used or wasted; as, springs feed ponds; the hopper feeds the mill; to feed a furnace with coal. [1913 Webster]

4. To nourish, in a general sense; to foster, strengthen, develop, and guard. [1913 Webster]

Thou shalt feed my people Israel. --2 Sam. v. 2. [1913 Webster]

Mightiest powers by deepest calms are fed. --B. Cornwall. [1913 Webster]

5. To graze; to cause to be cropped by feeding, as herbage by cattle; as, if grain is too forward in autumn, feed it with sheep. [1913 Webster]

Once in three years feed your mowing lands. --Mortimer. [1913 Webster]

6. To give for food, especially to animals; to furnish for consumption; as, to feed out turnips to the cows; to feed water to a steam boiler. [1913 Webster]

7. (Mach.) (a) To supply (the material to be operated upon) to a machine; as, to feed paper to a printing press. (b) To produce progressive operation upon or with (as in wood and metal working machines, so that the work moves to the cutting tool, or the tool to the work). [1913 Webster]