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fodder

American  
[fod-er] / ˈfɒd ər /

noun

  1. coarse food for livestock, composed of entire plants, including leaves, stalks, and grain, of such forages as corn and sorghum.

  2. people considered as readily available and of little value.

    cannon fodder.

  3. raw material.

    fodder for a comedian's routine.


verb (used with object)

  1. to feed with or as if with fodder.

fodder British  
/ ˈfɒdə /

noun

  1. bulk feed for livestock, esp hay, straw, etc

  2. raw experience or material

    fodder for the imagination

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to supply (livestock) with fodder

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See feed.

Etymology

Origin of fodder

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English fodder, fōdor; cognate with German Futter; akin to food

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ultimately, backseat photos have long been the fodder of tabloids - and that is unlikely to change any time soon.

From BBC

Like all dairy farmers, Gordon uses the good weather in spring and summer to grow and cut silage - grass that will be baled and used as fodder for the herd over winter.

From BBC

In other instances, though, it can become fodder for more conspiracies.

From Los Angeles Times

Those provided the fodder for nearly two dozen bills the following year, all written with the goal of making it easier to build things in California, especially homes.

From Los Angeles Times

The Justice Department’s release of its Jeffrey Epstein files has given some powerful people fresh fodder to embarrass their foes.

From The Wall Street Journal