[syn: bird feeder, birdfeeder, feeder]
6. an animal that feeds on a particular source of food;
- Example: "a bark feeder"
- Example: "a mud feeder"
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Feeder \Feed"er\, n.
1. One who, or that which, gives food or supplies
nourishment; steward.
[1913 Webster]
A couple of friends, his chaplain and feeder.
--Goldsmith.
[1913 Webster]
2. One who furnishes incentives; an encourager. "The feeder
of my riots." --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
3. One who eats or feeds; specifically, an animal to be fed
or fattened.
[1913 Webster]
With eager feeding, food doth choke the feeder.
--Shak.
[1913 Webster]
4. One who fattens cattle for slaughter.
[1913 Webster]
5. A stream that flows into another body of water; a
tributary; specifically (Hydraulic Engin.), a water course
which supplies a canal or reservoir by gravitation or
natural flow.
[1913 Webster]
6. A branch railroad, stage line, air route, or the like; a
side line which increases the business of the main line.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
7. (Mining)
(a) A small lateral lode falling into the main lode or
mineral vein. --Ure.
(b) A strong discharge of gas from a fissure; a blower.
--Raymond.
[1913 Webster]
8. (Mach.) An auxiliary part of a machine which supplies or
leads along the material operated upon.
[1913 Webster]
9. (Steam Engine) A device for supplying steam boilers with
water as needed.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
feeder
n 1: an animal being fattened or suitable for fattening
2: someone who consumes food for nourishment [syn: eater,
feeder]
3: a branch that flows into the main stream [syn: feeder,
tributary, confluent, affluent] [ant: distributary]
4: a machine that automatically provides a supply of some
material; "the feeder discharged feed into a trough for the
livestock" [syn: self-feeder, feeder]
5: an outdoor device that supplies food for wild birds [syn:
bird feeder, birdfeeder, feeder]
6: an animal that feeds on a particular source of food; "a bark
feeder"; "a mud feeder"