feeling Definition

feel
verb felt, feeling

1. To become aware of something through the sense of touch.
tr & intr
2. To have a physical or emotional sensation of something; to sense.
tr & intr
3. To find out or investigate with the hands, etc.

Thesaurus: handle, touch, hold, caress, finger, explore, stroke, fondle, grip, clutch, clasp, grope.
tr & intr
4. To have (an emotion).
tr & intr
5. To react emotionally to something or be emotionally affected by something.

Example: feels the loss very deeply
Thesaurus: experience, go through, undergo, sense, perceive, be aware of.
intr
6. To give the impression of being (soft, hard, rough, etc) when touched.
intr
7. To be or seem (well, ill, happy, etc).

Thesaurus: be perceived as, seem, appear.
8. To instinctively believe in something.

Example: She feels that this is a good idea
Thesaurus: believe, sense, know, think, reckon, deem, have a hunch, judge.
9. To seem to oneself to be.

Example: feel a fool

noun

1. A sensation or impression produced by touching.

Thesaurus: feeling, texture, touch.
2. An impression or atmosphere created by something.
3. An act of feeling with the fingers, etc.
4. An instinct, touch or knack.

Thesaurus: feeling, sense, touch, gift, knack, instinct.

Idiom: feel oneself

To feel as well as normal.
Example: felt herself again after a good sleep

Idiom: feel one's feet

To get used to a new situation, job etc.

Idiom: feel one's way

To make one's way cautiously.

Idiom: get the feel of something

To become familiar with it or used to it.

Idiom: have a feel for something

Have a natural ability for or understanding of (an activity, etc).

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon felan.

Phrasal Verb: feel around for something

To search for it with the fingers, etc.

Phrasal Verb: feel for someone

To have sympathy or compassion for them.

Phrasal Verb: feel for something

To try to find it by feeling.

Phrasal Verb: feel like something

To seem to oneself to be like something, to perceive oneself as something.
Example: feel like an idiot
Example: feel like a fool
To have an inclination or desire for it.
Example: feel like a walk
Example: I feel like going to the cinema tonight

Phrasal Verb: feel someone up

To move one's hands over their sexual organs.

Phrasal Verb: feel up to something

To feel fit enough for it.
Example: I don't feel up to a late night out

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feeling
noun

1. The sense of touch, a sensation or emotion.
2. Emotion as distinct from reason.
3. Strong emotion.

Example: speak with feeling
Thesaurus: emotion, passion.
4. A belief or opinion.

Thesaurus: opinion, thought, outlook, attitude, point of view.
5. A natural ability for, or understanding of, an activity, etc.

Thesaurus: sensitivity, taste, discernment, refinement, capacity, faculty, intelligence.
Form: a feeling for something (usually)
6. Affection.
7. Mutual interactive emotion between two people, such as bad feeling (resentment), good feeling (friendliness), ill feeling (hostility), etc.
8. An instinctive grasp or appreciation of it.

Form: feeling for something (often)
9. One's attitude to something.

Example: have strong feelings
Example: have mixed feelings
Form: feelings
10. One's sensibilities; delicately balanced emotional attitude.

Example: hurt someone's feelings
Thesaurus: ego, self-esteem, emotions, passions, sensitivities, affections, susceptibilities.
Form: feelings

adj

1. Sensitive; sympathetic.

Derivative: feelingless
adj

Derivative: feelingly
adverb

With sincerity resulting from experience.

Idiom: feelings are running high

There is a general feeling of anger, strong emotion, etc.

Idiom: no hard feelings

No offence taken.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon felan to feel.