feel*/*/*/

[fiːl] (past tense and past participle felt [felt] ) verb I

1) [linking verb] to be in a particular state as a result of an emotion or a physical feeling

I was feeling quite cheerful when we set out.[/ex]

Are you feeling ill?[/ex]

I feel such a fool for believing him.[/ex]

How do you feel now?[/ex]

I felt as though someone had just punched me in the stomach.[/ex]

When I came back to England, I felt like a stranger.[/ex]

2) [T] to experience a particular emotion or physical feeling

He felt a sudden pain in his chest.[/ex]

Richard felt no guilt at all for what he had done.[/ex]

Cara felt the need to talk to someone.[/ex]

Children don't seem to feel the cold as much as adults do.[/ex]

3) [linking verb] if something feels nice, good, strange etc, it gives you this feeling

It certainly felt good to be back home.[/ex]

The clock said it was only eight o'clock but it felt like midnight.[/ex]

4) [T] to touch something with your hand so that you can discover what it is like

She felt the child's forehead to see if he was hot.[/ex]

5) [linking verb] if something feels soft, hard etc, that is what it is like when you touch it

Your hair feels so soft.[/ex]

6) [T] to notice something that is touching you or something that is happening to you or near you

Can you feel the draught coming from under the door?[/ex]

I felt I was being watched.[/ex]

7) [I/T] to have a particular way of thinking about something

I feel that more should be done to help young people.[/ex]

I know that Sally feels strongly about this issue.[/ex]

8) [T] to be affected by something

People should feel the benefits of the tax cuts by next month.[/ex]

9) to try to find something with your hands

I felt around on the ground but couldn't find the torch.[/ex]

•

feel your age — to realize that you are becoming older and less able or willing to do things that younger people do[/ex]

feel like — spoken to want something[/ex]

[i]I feel like a cup of coffee.[/ex]

feel like doing sth Do you feel like going for a swim?[/ex]

feel your way — 1) to move slowly and carefully, touching things with your hands because you cannot see; 2) to make decisions and changes slowly, because you are not certain about what you are doing[/ex]

See:

home I

- feel for sb

- feel up to sth

II

noun [singular]

feel [fiːl]

1) the way that something seems when you touch it or when it touches you

Ben was enjoying the feel of the breeze in his hair.[/ex]

2) the way that something such as a place generally seems to you

The village has a lovely friendly feel.[/ex]

3) an act of touching someone or something

•

get a feel for sth; get the feel of sth — informalto develop a good knowledge or understanding of something[/ex]

have a feel for sth — informal to have a natural ability to do or understand something[/ex]