feeler

/ˈfiːlə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfiːlər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfē-lər/ (ame, mw)

feeler — 名詞

  • feelersingular
  • feelersplural

1. a thin, movable part on the heads of insects, crabs, and similar animals, used t

1.名詞B1
釋義

觸角

昆蟲頭部用來感知環境的細長器官

a thin, movable part on the heads of insects, crabs, and similar animals, used to touch and sense the surrounding environment

例句

The garden ant touched a blade of grass with its feelers before climbing over it.

那隻花園螞蟻用觸角碰了一下草葉，然後才爬了過去。

collocation: touch with feelers

Sophie watched a snail extend its feelers to touch the morning dew on a leaf.

Sophie 看著蝸牛伸出觸角，去碰葉片上的晨露。

同義詞
  • antenna

    the more formal or scientific term; 'antennae' is the plural used in biology

  • tentacle

    used for soft, flexible feelers on creatures such as snails or octopuses

  • whisker

    used for the long sensitive hairs on the face of a cat, dog, or other mammal — not for insects

文法句型

usually plural when referring to an insect's or animal's body parts

用法筆記

The plural form 'feelers' is much more common than the singular when referring to the paired body parts of insects and similar animals.

常見錯誤

❌The butterfly has two long feeler on its head.
✅The butterfly has two long feelers on its head.
💡'Feeler' is a countable noun; the plural 'feelers' must be used when referring to both parts of the pair.

2. a question or suggestion made gently to test other people's possible reactions b

2.名詞C1
釋義

試探；試探性提議

為了解他人反應而提出的試探性問題或建議

a question or suggestion made gently to test other people's possible reactions before deciding on a course of action

例句

The company put out feelers to see if its rival was open to a merger.

那間公司放出試探，看看競爭對手是否願意合併。

idiomatic phrase: put out feelers

Before applying to any school, Ananya sent out feelers to several professors she admired.

Ananya 在申請任何學校之前，先向她敬佩的幾位教授發出了試探。

同義詞
  • overture

    more formal, often used in diplomatic or business contexts

  • trial balloon

    specifically refers to testing public or political opinion before making a formal announcement

  • probe

    suggests a careful, systematic investigation rather than a casual suggestion

文法句型

put out feelers

send out feelers

用法筆記

Almost always used in the plural in the fixed phrases 'put out feelers' or 'send out feelers', even when only a single inquiry is made. The singular ('a feeler') occurs occasionally in explanatory contexts.

常見錯誤

❌The manager put out a feeler about the salary change.
✅The manager put out feelers about the salary change.
💡The idiomatic expression uses the plural 'feelers' regardless of whether one or several inquiries are being made.