fed

Everyday

1. The past form of "feed": gave food to a person or an animal. tree →
2. Gave something that is needed into a machine or a system, like feeding paper into a printer. tree →
3. "Fed up" (informal) means bored, annoyed or unhappy with something that has gone on too long. tree →
4. "Well fed" means having had plenty to eat. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life, we say "I fed the cat" or "the baby has been fed". In science, food chains show what animals feed on: the owl fed on mice. In stories, characters are "fed up" when they are tired of waiting or being treated badly. Phrases: "fed up with", "well fed", "fed and watered", "breastfed", "fed on" (ate as food).

Examples

• I fed the goldfish this morning. tree →
• Have you fed the dog yet? tree →
• The farmer fed the pigs with apples. tree →
• The baby was fed at six o'clock. tree →
• I'm fed up with this rain! tree →
• The owl fed on mice and voles. tree →
• We fed the ducks with peas, not bread. tree →
• Grandma made sure we were well fed. tree →
• I am well fed, and treated politely. tree →

Note

Irregular verb: feed, fed, fed (not "feeded"). "Fed up with" is the usual phrase ("fed up of" is common in British speech but less formal). Do not feed wild animals human junk food; bread is not good for ducks. In maths problems, "she fed each of 3 rabbits 2 carrots" means 3 × 2 = 6 carrots. "The Fed" in American news means the Federal Reserve, a bank.

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Besides feeding flocks, the word can mean looking after them as a shepherd, as in Zechariah's "flock of slaughter." The prophets also use it for well-fed horses that stand for people who give in to their desires, and the psalmist says God fed His people with "the bread of tears" in a time of sorrow. In the primary lessons: In everyday life, we say "I fed the cat" or "the baby has been fed". In science, food chains show what animals feed on: the owl fed on mice. In stories, characters are "fed up" when they are tired of waiting or being treated badly. Phrases: "fed up with", "well fed", "fed and watered", "breastfed", "fed on" (ate as food).

Examples

• And Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks. (Torah GEN.30.36, JPS 1917) tree →
• And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, well-favoured and fat-fleshed; and they fed in the reed-grass. (Torah GEN.41.2, JPS 1917) tree →
• And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fat-fleshed and well-favoured; and they fed in the reed-grass. (Torah GEN.41.18, JPS 1917) tree →
• So I fed the flock of slaughter, verily the poor of the flock. (Prophets ZEC.11.7, JPS 1917) tree →
• They are become as well-fed horses, lusty stallions; every one neigheth after his neighbour's wife. (Prophets JER.5.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thou hast fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in large measure. (Writings PSA.80.6, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Irregular verb: feed, fed, fed (not "feeded"). "Fed up with" is the usual phrase ("fed up of" is common in British speech but less formal). Do not feed wild animals human junk food; bread is not good for ducks. In maths problems, "she fed each of 3 rabbits 2 carrots" means 3 × 2 = 6 carrots. "The Fed" in American news means the Federal Reserve, a bank.