4 V‑LINK [no cont] If you talk about how the weather feels , you describe the weather, especially the temperature or whether or not you think it is going to rain or snow. □ [V adj] It felt wintry cold that day.
5 VERB If you feel an object, you touch it deliberately with your hand, so that you learn what it is like, for example what shape it is or whether it is rough or smooth. □ [V n] The doctor felt his head. □ [V n] When dry, feel the surface and it will no longer be smooth. □ [V wh] Feel how soft the skin is in the small of the back. □ [V prep/adv] Her eyes squeezed shut, she felt inside the tin, expecting it to be bare.
6 VERB [no cont] If you can feel something, you are aware of it because it is touching you. □ [V n] Through several layers of clothes I could feel his muscles. □ [V n prep/adv] He felt her leg against his.
7 VERB If you feel something happening, you become aware of it because of the effect it has on your body. □ [V n v-ing] She felt something being pressed into her hands. □ [V n inf] He felt something move beside him. □ [V pron-refl -ed] She felt herself lifted from her feet. □ [be V -ed] Tremors were felt 250 miles away.
8 VERB If you feel yourself doing something or being in a particular state, you are aware that something is happening to you which you are unable to control. □ [V pron-refl inf] I felt myself blush. □ [V pron-refl v-ing] If at any point you feel yourself becoming tense, make a conscious effort to relax. □ [V n inf] I actually felt my heart quicken. [Also V n v-ing]
9 VERB [no cont] If you feel the presence of someone or something, you become aware of them, even though you cannot see or hear them. □ [V n] He felt her eyes on him. □ [V n] Suddenly, I felt a presence behind me. □ [V that] I could feel that a man was watching me very intensely. □ [V n v-ing] He almost felt her wincing at the other end of the telephone.
10 VERB [no cont] If you feel that something is the case, you have a strong idea in your mind that it is the case. □ [V that] I feel that not enough is being done to protect the local animal life. □ [V adj that] I feel certain that it will all turn out well. □ [V n to-inf] She felt herself to be part of a large business empire. □ [V pron-refl n] I never felt myself a real child of the sixties.
11 VERB [no cont] If you feel that you should do something, you think that you should do it. □ [V that] I feel I should resign. □ [V that] He felt that he had to do it. □ [V -ed to-inf] You need not feel obliged to contribute. □ [V + under ] They felt under no obligation to maintain their employees.
12 VERB [no cont] If you talk about how you feel about something, you talk about your opinion, attitude, or reaction to it. □ [V + about ] We'd like to know what you feel about abortion. □ [V adj/adv + about ] She feels guilty about spending less time lately with her two kids. □ [V n + about ] He feels deep regret about his friend's death.
13 VERB If you feel like doing something or having something, you want to do it or have it because you are in the right mood for it and think you would enjoy it. □ [V like v-ing] Neither of them felt like going back to sleep. □ [V like n] Could we take a walk? I feel like a little exercise.
14 VERB If you feel the effect or result of something, you experience it. □ [V n] The charity is still feeling the effects of revelations about its one-time president. □ [be V -ed] The real impact will be felt in the developing world.
15 N‑SING The feel of something, for example a place, is the general impression that it gives you. □ The room has a warm, cosy feel. ● PHRASE If you get the feel of something, for example a place or a new activity, you become familiar with it. □ He wanted to get the feel of the place.
16 → see also feeling , felt
17 feel free → see free
▸ feel for
1 PHRASAL VERB If you feel for something, for example in the dark, you try to find it by moving your hand around until you touch it. □ [V P n] I felt for my wallet and papers in my inside pocket. □ [V adv/prep P n] I slumped down in my usual armchair and felt around for the newspaper.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you feel for someone, you have sympathy for them. □ [V P n] She cried on the phone and was very upset and I really felt for her.
feel|er /fiː lə r / (feelers )
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] An insect's feelers are the two thin stalks on its head with which it touches and senses things around it.
2 N‑PLURAL If you put out feelers , you make careful, quiet contacts with people in order to get information from them, or to find out what their reaction will be to a suggestion. □ When vacancies occur, the office puts out feelers to the universities.
fee l-good also feelgood
1 ADJ [ADJ n] A feel-good film is a film which presents people and life in a way which makes the people who watch it feel happy and optimistic. □ …a bright and enjoyable feelgood romance.
2 PHRASE When journalists refer to the feel-good factor , they mean that people are feeling hopeful and optimistic about the future. □ There were signs of the feel-good factor after the election result.
feel|ing ◆◆◇ /fiː l I ŋ/ (feelings )
1 N‑COUNT A feeling is an emotion, such as anger or happiness. □ [+ of ] It gave me a feeling of satisfaction. □ I think our main feeling would be of an immense gratitude. □ He was unable to contain his own destructive feelings.