'Feeder' definitions:

Definition of 'feeder'

From: WordNet
noun
An animal being fattened or suitable for fattening
noun
Someone who consumes food for nourishment [syn: eater, feeder]
noun
A branch that flows into the main stream [syn: feeder, tributary, confluent, affluent] [ant: distributary]
noun
A machine that automatically provides a supply of some material; "the feeder discharged feed into a trough for the livestock" [syn: self-feeder, feeder]
noun
An outdoor device that supplies food for wild birds [syn: bird feeder, birdfeeder, feeder]
noun
An animal that feeds on a particular source of food; "a bark feeder"; "a mud feeder"

Definition of 'Feeder'

From: GCIDE
  • 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]

Synonyms of 'feeder'

From: Moby Thesaurus