often attributive
1
: one that feeds: such as
a
: one that fattens livestock for slaughter
b
: a device or apparatus for supplying food
2
: one that eats or takes nourishment
especially
: an animal being fattened or one suitable for fattening
3
a
: one that supplies, replenishes, or connects
c
: a heavy wire conductor supplying electricity at some point of an electric distribution system (as from a substation)
d
: branch
especially
: a branch transportation line
e
: a road that provides access to a major artery
Examples of feeder in a Sentence
a pigeon feeder holding a bag of stale bread
the lake has several feeders that have their headwaters near the Canadian border
Recent Examples on the Web
This 4-cup feeder has a 5-megapixel camera mounted right in, capturing high-definition footage of every bird that visits and streaming it straight to your smartphone.
—
Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Feb. 2025
Filled with a sweet, sticky, sugary solution, the feeders are hard to resist—and the bats eagerly slurp their fill.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2025
Belles says whether to put a hummingbird feeder in the sun or shade is dependent upon the temperature outside.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 12 Feb. 2025
With some variations, feeders for bird seed come in three types, according to the Lab of Ornithology:
Feeders should be sturdy enough to withstand winter weather and to keep seeds dry.
—George Petras, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for feeder
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Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Feb. 2025
Filled with a sweet, sticky, sugary solution, the feeders are hard to resist—and the bats eagerly slurp their fill.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2025
Belles says whether to put a hummingbird feeder in the sun or shade is dependent upon the temperature outside.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 12 Feb. 2025
With some variations, feeders for bird seed come in three types, according to the Lab of Ornithology:
Feeders should be sturdy enough to withstand winter weather and to keep seeds dry.
—George Petras, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for feeder
Cite this Entry
“Feeder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feeder. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
feeder
noun
feed·er
ˈfēd-ər 
1
: a device for supplying food
bird feeder
b
: a branch (as of a river or a transportation system) that supplies or connects to another
2
: one that eats
especially
: an animal being fattened or suitable for fattening
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