feeler

See also: Feeler

English

Etymology

to feel +‎ -er. From Middle English feler (to feel +‎ -er), early 15c. Animal organ definition from 1660s. Transferred sense of "proposal put forth to observe the reaction it gets" is from 1830.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈfiːlə/

  • Audio (Southern England)

    (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈfiːləɹ/
• Rhymes: -iːlə(ɹ)

Noun

feeler (plural feelers)

1. (literally) Someone or something that feels.

   Are you more of a feeler or more of a thinker?

2. (anatomy) An antenna or appendage used for feeling, especially on an insect.
3. (figuratively) Something ventured to test another's feelings, opinion, or position.

   I sent out some feelers but they didn't seem interested.

   This survey is designed to get a feeler about how the citizens feel about the proposed new highway.

4. (Philippines) Someone that assumes or imagines that one's affection is reciprocated; Someone that indulges in one's own wishful thinking; One who flatters oneself

Derived terms

• feeler gauge
• put out feelers
• touchy-feeler

 

Translations

someone or something that feels

• Dutch: ^{(please verify)} voeler m, ^{(please verify)} voelende m
• German: Fühler m
• Portuguese: sentidor m
• Russian: щуп m (ščup) (probe)

an antenna or appendage used to feel, as on an insect

• Armenian: շոշափուկ (šošapʿuk)
• Bulgarian: антена f (antena), пипалце n (pipalce)
• Czech: tykadlo n
• Danish: følehorn n, føletråd c
• Dutch: voelspriet, voeldraad, voelhoorn
• Esperanto: anteno
• Finnish: tuntosarvi
• German: Fühler m
• Hungarian: csáp
• Icelandic: fálmari m, þreifari m
• Irish: adharcán m
• Latin: palpus m
• Maori: hihi, pūhihi
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: føletråd m

• Old English: lim n
• Polish: czułek m
• Portuguese: sensor m, palpo m
• Russian: у́сик m (úsik) (antenna), щу́пальце n (ščúpalʹce) (tentacle)
• Spanish: antena f
• Swedish: känselspröt n
• Vietnamese: xúc giác (觸角)

Something ventured to test other's feelings

• Bulgarian: намек m (namek)
• Danish: føler c, prøveballon c
• Dutch: proefballon m
• Swedish: försöksballong c, trevare c

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

• French: ^{(please verify)} capteur c, ^{(please verify)} tripoteur c, ^{(please verify)} antenne c, ^{(please verify)} brin c

Anagrams

• refeel