forage

 
Pronunciation: /ˈfɒrɪdʒ/

verb

[no object]
  • (of a person or animal) search widely for food or provisions: the birds forage for aquatic invertebrates, insects, and seeds
  • [with object] obtain (food or provisions) by searching: a girl foraging grass for oxen
  • [with object] search (a place) so as to obtain food: units that were foraging a particular area
  • [with object] archaic supply with food.

noun

  • 1 [mass noun] food such as grass or hay for horses and cattle; fodder.
  • 2 [in singular] a wide search over an area in order to obtain something, especially food or provisions.

Derivatives

forager

noun

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French fourrage (noun), fourrager (verb), from fuerre 'straw', of Germanic origin and related to fodder