feed on
B1 neutral inseparable transitive
In simple words
To eat something regularly, or to get stronger from something.
Literal meaning: To take one's food from a particular source — the preposition 'on' indicates the object being consumed.
Meanings
1 B1 neutral
Of an animal: to regularly eat a particular type of food.
"Blue whales feed on tiny crustaceans called krill, consuming several tonnes a day."
Grammar: inseparable
2 B2
idiomatic
neutral
Of an emotion, belief, or movement: to grow stronger by drawing from something.
"Extremism feeds on poverty and social exclusion."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Common in biology and ecology for describing animal diets. Also used figuratively for habits, emotions, or beliefs that sustain or strengthen something. Standard and widely used.
Commonly used with
insects plants fear hope plankton seeds
Forms
Base
feed on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
feeds on
he/she/it
Past simple
feeded on
yesterday
Past participle
feeded on
have + pp
-ing form
feeding on
continuous
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Synonyms
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