feel
/ˈfiːl/ verb, noun
Forms feels feeling felt feelest feltst feltest feeleth
- verb (transitive, copulative) To become aware of through the skin; to use the sense of touch on. “You can feel a heartbeat if you put your fingers on your breast.”
- verb (transitive) To find one's way (literally or figuratively) by touching or using cautious movements. “I felt my way through the darkened room.”
- verb (intransitive) To receive information by touch or by any neurons other than those responsible for sight, smell, taste, or hearing.
- verb (intransitive) To search by sense of touch. “He felt (about) for the light switch in the dark.”
- verb (transitive) To experience an emotion or other mental state about. “I can feel the sadness in his poems.”
- verb (transitive) To think, believe, or have an impression concerning. “I feel that we need to try harder.”
- verb (intransitive, copulative) To experience an emotion or other mental state. “He obviously feels strongly about it.”
- verb (intransitive) To sympathize; to have the sensibilities moved or affected. “I feel for you and your plight.”
- noun (archaic) The sense of touch.
- noun A perception experienced mainly or solely through the sense of touch. “Bark has a rough feel.”
- noun A vague mental impression. “You should get a feel for the area before moving in.”
- noun An act of fondling. “She gave me a quick feel to show that she loves me.”
- noun A vague understanding. “I'm getting a feel for what you mean.”
- noun An intuitive ability. “She has a feel for music.”
- noun (chiefly US, slang) A feeling; an emotion. “I know that feel.”
Synonyms
grope handle touch spirit tone feeling flavor flavour look smell tactile property experience find sense finger palpate
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English felen, from Old English fēlan, from Proto-West Germanic *fōlijan.
Cognate with Dutch voelen and German fühlen.
See fele.
Webster’s 1913
- verb To perceive by the touch; to take cognizance of by means of the nerves of sensation distributed all over the body, especially by those of the skin; to have sensation excited by contact of (a thing) with the body or limbs.
- verb To touch; to handle; to examine by touching; as, feel this piece of silk; hence, to make trial of; to test; often with out. Come near, . . . that I may feel thee, my son. Gen. xxvii. 21.
- verb To have perception by the touch, or by contact of anything with the nerves of sensation, especially those upon the surface of the body.
- verb To have the sensibilities moved or affected.
Etymology [AS. f; akin to OS. gif to perceive, D. voelen to feel, OHG. fuolen, G. fühlen, Icel. falma to grope, and prob. to AS. folm paim of the hand, L. palma. Cf. Fumble, Palm.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “feel”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details