feeler

[ fee-ler ]

noun

1. a person or thing that feels.
2. a proposal, remark, hint, etc., designed to bring out the opinions or purposes of others:

   Interested in an accord, both labor and management were putting out feelers.

3. Zoology. an organ of touch, as an antenna or a tentacle.
4. Also called feel·er gauge [fee, -ler geyj]. Engineering. a gauge having several blades of known thickness, used for measuring clearances.
5. Nautical. a device for indicating that the lead of a mechanical sounding device has come to the bottom.

feeler

/ ˈfiːlə /

noun

1. a person or thing that feels
2. an organ in certain animals, such as an antenna or tentacle, that is sensitive to touch
3. a remark designed to probe the reactions or intentions of other people

feeler

/ fē′lər /

1. A slender body part used for touching or sensing. The antennae of insects and the barbels of catfish are feelers.

Word History and Origins

Origin of feeler¹

First recorded in 1520–30; feel + -er ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see put out feelers .

Example Sentences

We put a feeler out to see whether he was interested.

From Salon

In an interview with Semafor in December, he sought to explain his work by saying that if a client wanted to sell a plane or a boat, he would “put that feeler out there” among his contacts, adding that he had landed a couple of million-dollar contracts.

From Seattle Times

He is a feeler and someone who’s trying to stop himself from feeling.

From New York Times

“Joanna is a deep feeler,” Khan said.

From New York Times

He instead described himself as “an unintellectual feeler” and an “immersive actor” during a sprawling conversation about acting, spirituality and his conversion with Bishop Robert Barron, the former Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles and founder of the Word on Fire ministry.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• overture