# feed

/ˈfid/ (US) · /fˈiːd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/feed
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to give food

verb · CEFR A2

to give food to a person, an animal, or a plant.

For teachers: to provide someone or something with food or nutrients. Transitive, though it can be used intransitively when referring to animals eating.

- Don't forget to feed the cat before you leave for work.
- The charity aims to feed thousands of displaced families by establishing mobile kitchens in the most affected regions.

### 2. to supply a machine or system

verb · CEFR B2

to put something into a machine or a system so it can work.

For teachers: to supply a machine, process, or system with the necessary materials or data for operation.

- You need to feed the paper into the printer one sheet at a time.
- Sensors located throughout the facility feed real-time data into a central computer that monitors energy consumption.

### 3. animal food

noun · CEFR B1

food that is grown or prepared specifically for farm animals or pets.

For teachers: food given to domestic animals, especially livestock. Often uncountable when referring to bulk agricultural products.

- The farmer bought a large bag of chicken feed at the market.
- Rising costs of organic cattle feed have forced many local dairy farmers to increase their wholesale prices.

### 4. internet content

noun · CEFR B1

a list of updates or posts on a website or social media app that changes constantly.

For teachers: a web resource or data format used for providing users with frequently updated content. Often used to describe the main scrollable area of social media platforms.

- I saw the news on my social media feed this morning.
- The algorithm prioritises video content in the user's feed, often burying text-based updates from friends and family.

### 5. a meal

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · British English

a meal, especially a large or satisfying one.

For teachers: an instance of eating; a meal. Frequently used in informal contexts to describe a substantial or informal gathering for food.

- That was a decent feed we had at the pub last night.
- After a long day of hiking, the group headed to a local diner for a proper feed.

## Examples

- I check my news feed every morning for updates.
- The algorithm prioritizes posts from close friends at the top of your social media feed.
- Digital marketers analyze how users interact with the algorithmic feed to determine the optimal timing for sponsored content and organic posts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.