Food vs. Feed: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 7, 2023
"Food" generally refers to substances consumed by humans for nutrition, while "Feed" refers to substances given to animals for sustenance.
Key Differences
"Food" and "Feed" are terms that address the sustenance of living organisms, but they cater to different consumers. "Food" typically denotes substances that humans consume for nutrition and sustenance. It encompasses a wide variety of items, from fruits and vegetables to meats and grains. "Food" can be cooked, processed, or raw, but it's primarily meant for human consumption.
"Feed," on the other hand, pertains to the sustenance provided to animals. It can come in various forms, including pellets, hay, grains, and mixtures specifically formulated for particular animals. When someone refers to "chicken feed" or "horse feed," they are speaking of a mixture designed for the dietary needs of that particular animal.
It's worth noting that while all "Food" can be "Feed" (since many animals eat what humans eat), not all "Feed" is suitable as "Food." For instance, certain animal feeds might contain substances or formulations that are not fit or beneficial for human consumption.
Another distinguishing aspect is the verb form of "Feed." While "Food" remains a noun, "Feed" can be both a noun and a verb. As a verb, "Feed" describes the act of providing sustenance, whether it's to humans or animals. For example, one might "feed the birds" or "feed the children."
In essence, both "Food" and "Feed" revolve around nutrition and sustenance. The primary distinction lies in the intended consumer: "Food" for humans, and "Feed" for animals.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Substances consumed by humans
Substances given to animals
Intended For
Primarily humans
Animals
Forms
Can be raw, processed, cooked
Often comes as pellets, hay, grains
Composition
Suitable for human consumption
Formulated for specific animal needs
Usage
Always a noun
Can be both a noun and a verb
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Food and Feed Definitions
Food
Any nutritious substance that people eat or drink to maintain life.
The food at the restaurant was delicious.
Feed
To supply or provide something necessary for growth or development.
Rain helps feed the plants.
Food
Items consumed by humans for taste and sustenance.
Street food in the city offers a variety of flavors.
Feed
To give food to; supply with nourishment
Feed the children.
Food
Edible items derived from plants or animals.
The food pyramid suggests a balanced diet.
Feed
To provide as food or nourishment
Fed fish to the cat.
Food
Products, dishes, or ingredients prepared for consumption.
The food industry has seen major changes over the years.
Feed
To serve as food for
The turkey is large enough to feed a dozen.
Food
Anything that provides mental stimulus and nourishment.
Good books are food for the soul.
Feed
To produce food for
The valley feeds an entire county.
Food
Material, especially carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, that an organism uses for energy, growth, and maintaining the processes of life. Plants, algae, and some bacteria make their own food through photosynthesis, while animals and most other organisms obtain food by consuming other organisms or organic matter.
Feed
To provide for consumption, utilization, or operation
Feed logs to a fire.
Feed data into a computer.
Food
A specified kind of nourishment
Breakfast food.
Plant food.
Feed
To supply with something essential for growth, maintenance, or operation
Melting snow feeds the reservoirs.
Food
Nourishment eaten in solid form
Food and drink.
Feed
To transmit (media content) by means of a communications network or satellite, as for processing or distribution.
Food
Something that nourishes or sustains in a way suggestive of physical nourishment
Food for thought.
Feed
To minister to; gratify
Fed their appetite for the morbid.
Food
(uncountable) Any solid substance that can be consumed by living organisms, especially by eating, in order to sustain life.
The innkeeper brought them food and drink.
Feed
To support or promote; encourage
His unexplained absences fed our suspicions.
Food
(countable) A foodstuff.
Feed
To supply as a cue
Feed lines to an actor.
Food
Anything that nourishes or sustains.
The man's inspiring speech gave us food for thought.
Mozart and Bach are food for my soul.
Feed
(Sports) To pass a ball or puck to (a teammate), especially to set up a scoring chance.
Food
What is fed upon; that which goes to support life by being received within, and assimilated by, the organism of an animal or a plant; nutriment; aliment; especially, what is eaten by animals for nourishment.
Feed
To eat. Used of animals
Pigs feeding at a trough.
Food
Anything that instructs the intellect, excites the feelings, or molds habits of character; that which nourishes.
This may prove food to my displeasure.
In this moment there is life and foodFor future years.
Feed
To be nourished or supported
An ego that feeds on flattery.
Food
To supply with food.
Feed
To move steadily, as into a machine for processing.
Food
Any substance that can be metabolized by an organism to give energy and build tissue
Feed
To be channeled; flow
This road feeds into the freeway.
Food
Any solid substance (as opposed to liquid) that is used as a source of nourishment;
Food and drink
Feed
Food for animals, especially livestock.
Food
Anything that provides mental stimulus for thinking
Feed
The amount of such food given at one time.
Feed
(Informal) A meal, especially a large one
We had a great feed at the restaurant.
Feed
The act of providing food, especially to an animal
Food given at one feed.
Feed
Material or an amount of material supplied, as to a machine or furnace.
Feed
The act of supplying such material.
Feed
An apparatus that supplies material to a machine.
Feed
The aperture through which such material enters a machine.
Feed
The transmission or conveyance of published content, as by satellite, on the internet, or by broadcast over a network of stations.
Feed
A signal or program made by means of such transmission
The satellite feed was garbled due to sunspot activity.
Feed
(Sports) A pass of a ball or puck, especially to set up a scoring chance.
Feed
(transitive) To give (someone or something) food to eat.
Feed the dog every evening.
Feed
(intransitive) To eat usually of animals.
Spiders feed on gnats and flies.
Feed
(ditransitive) To give (someone or something) to (someone or something else) as food.
Feed the fish to the dolphins.
Feed
(transitive) To give to a machine to be processed.
Feed the paper gently into the document shredder.
We got interesting results after feeding the computer with the new data.
Feed
(figurative) To satisfy, gratify, or minister to (a sense, taste, desire, etc.).
Feed
To supply with something.
Springs feed ponds with water.
Feed
To graze; to cause to be cropped by feeding, as herbage by cattle.
If grain is too forward in autumn, feed it with sheep.
Feed
To pass to.
Feed
To create the environment where another phonological rule can apply; to be applied before another rule.
Nasalization feeds raising.
Feed
To create the syntactic environment in which another syntactic rule is applied; to be applied before another syntactic rule.
Feed
Simple past tense and past participle of fee
Feed
(uncountable) Food given to (especially herbivorous) non-human animals.
They sell feed, riding helmets, and everything else for horses.
Feed
Something supplied continuously.
A satellite feed
Feed
The part of a machine that supplies the material to be operated upon.
The paper feed of a printer
Feed
The forward motion of the material fed into a machine.
Feed
A meal.
Feed
(countable) A gathering to eat, especially in large quantities.
They held a crab feed on the beach.
Feed
(Internet) Encapsulated online content, such as news or a blog, that can be subscribed to.
I've subscribed to the feeds of my favourite blogs, so I can find out when new posts are added without having to visit those sites.
Feed
A straight man who delivers lines to the comedian during a performance.
Feed
To give food to; to supply with nourishment; to satisfy the physical huger of.
If thine enemy hunger, feed him.
Unreasonable creatures feed their young.
Feed
To satisfy; gratify or minister to, as any sense, talent, taste, or desire.
I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.
Feeding him with the hope of liberty.
Feed
To fill the wants of; to supply with that which is used or wasted; as, springs feed ponds; the hopper feeds the mill; to feed a furnace with coal.
Feed
To nourish, in a general sense; to foster, strengthen, develop, and guard.
Thou shalt feed my people Israel.
Mightiest powers by deepest calms are fed.
Feed
To graze; to cause to be cropped by feeding, as herbage by cattle; as, if grain is too forward in autumn, feed it with sheep.
Once in three years feed your mowing lands.
Feed
To give for food, especially to animals; to furnish for consumption; as, to feed out turnips to the cows; to feed water to a steam boiler.
Feed
To supply (the material to be operated upon) to a machine; as, to feed paper to a printing press.
Feed
To take food; to eat.
Her kid . . . which I afterwards killed because it would not feed.
Feed
To subject by eating; to satisfy the appetite; to feed one's self (upon something); to prey; - with on or upon.
Leaving thy trunk for crows to feed upon.
Feed
To be nourished, strengthened, or satisfied, as if by food.
Feed
To place cattle to feed; to pasture; to graze.
If a man . . . shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man's field.
Feed
That which is eaten; esp., food for beasts; fodder; pasture; hay; grain, ground or whole; as, the best feed for sheep.
Feed
A grazing or pasture ground.
Feed
An allowance of provender given to a horse, cow, etc.; a meal; as, a feed of corn or oats.
Feed
A meal, or the act of eating.
For such pleasure till that hourAt feed or fountain never had I found.
Feed
The water supplied to steam boilers.
Feed
The motion, or act, of carrying forward the stuff to be operated upon, as cloth to the needle in a sewing machine; or of producing progressive operation upon any material or object in a machine, as, in a turning lathe, by moving the cutting tool along or in the work.
Feed
Food for domestic livestock
Feed
Provide as food;
Feed the guests the nuts
Feed
Give food to;
Feed the starving children in India
Don't give the child this tough meat
Feed
Feed into; supply;
Her success feeds her vanity
Feed
Introduce continuously;
Feed carrots into a food processor
Feed
Support or promote;
His admiration fed her vanity
Feed
Take in food; used of animals only;
This dog doesn't eat certain kinds of meat
What do whales eat?
Feed
Serve as food for; be the food for;
This dish feeds six
Feed
Move along, of liquids;
Water flowed into the cave
The Missouri feeds into the Mississippi
Feed
Profit from in an exploitatory manner;
He feeds on her insecurity
Feed
Gratify;
Feed one's eyes on a gorgeous view
Feed
Provide with fertilizers or add nutrients to;
We should fertilize soil if we want to grow healthy plants
Feed
Food provided for livestock and other animals.
The farmer purchased feed for his cattle.
Feed
To give food to a person, child, or animal.
It's important to feed your pets daily.
Feed
To produce or serve as food for.
These trees feed the entire ecosystem.
Feed
A broadcast or online stream of news or content.
I checked my social media feed this morning.
FAQs
Is dog Food considered Feed?
Technically, yes, since it's formulated for animal consumption.
Can humans eat animal Feed?
Some feeds may be safe, but they're not formulated for human nutrition.
Is all Food suitable as Feed for animals?
Not always; some human foods can be harmful to animals.
Can "Feed" also be a verb?
Yes, it can mean providing sustenance to someone or something.
Which is more diverse in terms of culinary exploration, Food or Feed?
"Food" due to the diverse culinary cultures and tastes humans have.
Is there a difference between Food and Feed?
Yes, "Food" is for humans, while "Feed" is for animals.
Why is there a difference in Food and Feed formulations?
Different species have varied nutritional requirements.
Can "Food" also be a verb like "Feed"?
No, "Food" remains a noun.
Are all feeds grain-based?
No, feeds vary based on the animal's dietary needs.
Are there foods that are both Food and Feed?
Yes, like grains that humans eat and also provide to animals.
Is chicken feed suitable for all birds?
No, different birds have specific dietary needs.
Is "Feed" always related to animals?
Predominantly, but in digital contexts, a "feed" can refer to streaming content.
Is there a Feed for every animal species?
Many species have specialized feeds, but not all.
Is hay considered Feed?
Yes, it's often given to herbivorous animals.
Can a Food also be a delicacy?
Yes, some foods are considered delicacies in certain cultures.
Can food shortages affect Feed availability?
Yes, as some animal feeds rely on human food byproducts.
What's a food chain?
A series of organisms interlinked by their feeding relations.
Do all animals eat the same kind of Feed?
No, Feed is often specialized based on the animal species.
Do plants have Food?
They produce their own food through photosynthesis.
What is a news Feed?
A stream of news or content, especially in digital platforms.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
