forage

[ fawr-ij, for- ]

noun

1. food for horses or cattle; fodder; provender.
2. the seeking or obtaining of such food.
3. the act of searching for provisions of any kind.
4. a raid.

verb (used without object)

, for·aged, for·ag·ing.

1. to wander or go in search of provisions.
2. to search about; seek; rummage; hunt:

   He went foraging in the attic for old mementos.

3. to make a raid.

verb (used with object)

, for·aged, for·ag·ing.

1. to collect forage from; strip of supplies; plunder:

   to forage the countryside.

2. to supply with forage.
3. to obtain by foraging.

forage

/ ˈfɒrɪdʒ /

noun

1. food for horses or cattle, esp hay or straw
2. the act of searching for food or provisions
3. military a raid or incursion

verb

1. to search (the countryside or a town) for food, provisions, etc
2. intr military to carry out a raid
3. tr to obtain by searching about
4. tr to give food or other provisions to
5. tr to feed (cattle or horses) with such food

Derived Forms

• ˈforager, noun

Other Words From

• for·ag·er noun
• un·for·aged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of forage¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Old French fourrage, derivative of fuerre fodder (from Germanic )

Word History and Origins

Origin of forage¹

C14: from Old French fourrage , probably of Germanic origin; see food , fodder

Synonym Study

See feed.

Example Sentences

There is some food aid, but many in the area survive by foraging for water lily roots and fish to supplement their rations.

From BBC

Her family lost their entire cattle herd after flooding last year and now survive on government aid along with anything they can forage.

From BBC

While living in Stoke Newington, he foraged and ate around 175 different varieties of plants from one park.

From BBC

The decadent Brillat-Savarin, a triple-cream delight, embodies the vibrant foraging of goats, while Spring Cheddar — made from the milk of cows that have grazed spring pastures — is subtly sweet and lightly herbaceous.

From Salon

The boars have been known to go hunting for food in the local neighbourhoods when foraging becomes harder in the nearby forest.

From BBC

Related Words

• comb
• rummage
• scour
• scrounge