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DictionaryforageAnimal feed
noun

forage

Plant material eaten by grazing animals.

The pasture provided fresh forage for the cattle.

Etymology
forageFrenchfodder

The French ancestor names fodder. The English noun retains that feeding sense for plants consumed by grazing animals or gathered for them.

More examples

  • Farmers stored forage for the winter.
  • The goats searched for suitable forage along the hillside.
  • The report assessed the quality of the available forage.

Forms

forage

Similar words

fodder
Fodder is food for livestock; forage often includes grasses and other plants animals graze or farmers harvest.
hay
Hay is dried grass or other plants kept for animal feed; forage is the broader category.