feel

1 /fi:l/ verb past tense and past participle felt /felt/

1 FEEL HAPPY/SICK ETC (linking verb, intransitive) to experience a particular feeling or emotion: You can never tell what he's feeling. | feel fine/sick/hungry/guilty etc: I'm feeling a little better today. | I felt a bit awkward having to ask them for money. | We felt insulted by their offer. | feel as if/as though: I felt as though I'd won a million dollars.

2 NOTICE (transitive not in progressive) to notice something that is happening to you: He loved feeling the sand between his toes. | feel sb/sth do sth: Terry felt the snake touch his foot. | feel yourself doing sth: I felt myself blushing slightly.

3 FEEL SMOOTH/DRY ETC (linking verb) if something feels smooth, dry, cold etc, this is the feeling it gives you, especially when you touch it: Her skin felt cold and rough. | feel as if/as though: My leg feels as if it's broken.

4 it feels good/strange etc if a situation, event etc feels good, strange etc, this is how it makes you feel: It felt wonderful to be wearing clean clothes again. | How does it feel to be 40?

5 HAVE AN OPINION (transitive not usually in progressive) to have a particular opinion, especially one that is based on your feelings, not on facts : feel (that): I can't help feeling that he deserved it.

(+ about): How do you feel about all these changes in the curriculum? | feel sure/certain (=think that something is definitely true): She felt sure she'd made the right decision.

6 feel like

a) to want to have something or do something: I felt like another glass of wine. | He didn't feel like going to work.

b) to give you a particular feeling: It's nice fabric - it feels like velvet. | I was only there two days but it felt like a week!

c) to feel as if you are a particular kind of person: They made me feel like one of the family.

7 TOUCH (T) to touch something with your fingers to find out about it: She could feel a lump on her breast. | Feel the quality of this cloth.

8 feel around/on etc sth (for sth) to search for something with your fingers: She felt about in her bag for a pencil.

9 feel the force/effects/benefits etc of sth to experience the good or bad results of something: The company is beginning to feel the effects of the strike.

10 feel the need to do sth to feel that you need to do something: Sometimes we feel the need to get out of New York and take things easy.

11 feel your way

a) to move carefully, with your hands out in front of you because you cannot see properly: He felt his way across the room, and found the light switch.

b) to do things slowly and carefully, because you are unsure about a new situation: He hasn't been in the job long and he's still feeling his way.

12 feel free spoken used to tell someone that you are happy if they want to do something: “Could I use your phone for a minute?” “Feel free.” | feel free to do sth: Please feel free to make suggestions.

13 I know (just/exactly) how you feel spoken used to express sympathy with a remark someone has just made: “Everything I do seems to go wrong!” “I know just how you feel!”

14 not feel yourself spoken to not feel as healthy or happy as usual: Don't take any notice of her - she's not feeling quite herself today.

15 feel your age to realize that you are not as young or active as you used to be: It was only looking at his son that made him feel his age.

16 feel the cold to suffer because of cold weather: Old people tend to feel the cold more.

17 feel a death/a loss etc to react very strongly to a bad event, especially someone's death: Susan felt her grandmother's death more than the others.

feel for sb phrasal verb (T) to feel sympathy for someone: I really feel for the parents of that little boy who was killed. feel sb out phrasal verb (T) AmE informal to ask someone's opinions or feelings: Have you felt out your parents about using the cabin? feel sb up phrasal verb (T) informal to touch someone sexually, without their permission 2 noun (singular)

1 the way that something feels when you touch it: I like the feel of this cloth. | a soft feathery feel

2 a general idea about something: The weight adds a feel of quality to these plates.

3 have a feel for informal to have a natural understanding of something and skill in doing it: You've got to have a feel for the music.