feeler

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: feel=er

CIDE DICTIONARY

feeler, n. 

•  One who, or that which, feels.  [1913 Webster]
•  One of the sense organs or certain animals (as insects), which are used in testing objects by touch and in searching for food; an antenna; a palp.  [1913 Webster]

  "Insects . . . perpetually feeling and searching before them with their feelers or antennæ."  [1913 Webster]
•  Anything, as a proposal, observation, etc., put forth or thrown out in order to ascertain the views of others; something tentative.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

feeler, n.
1 an organ in certain animals for testing things by touch or for searching for food.
2 a tentative proposal or suggestion, esp. to elicit a response (put out feelers).
3 a person or thing that feels.

Idiom

feeler gauge a gauge equipped with blades for measuring narrow gaps etc.

THESAURUS

feeler

advance, antenna, approach, asking price, barb, barbel, barbule, barometer, bid, bone of contention, cat whisker, catechism, cross-interrogatory, cross-question, debating point, demand, foretaste, hint, inquiry, interrogation, interrogative, interrogatory, invitation, issue, kiteflying, leader, leading, leading question, moot point, offer, offering, overture, palp, palpus, pilot balloon, point at issue, point in question, preliminary approach, presentation, probe, problem, proffer, query, question, question at issue, question mark, quodlibet, random sample, sample, sensor, sound, sounder, straw vote, submission, suggestion, tactile cell, tactile corpuscle, tactile hair, tactile organ, tactile process, tactor, tentative approach, test, tester, topic, trial balloon, vexed question, vibrissa, weather vane, weathercock

ROGET THESAURUS

feeler

Touch

N touch, tact, taction, tactility, feeling, palpation, palpability, contrectation, manipulation, massage, hand, finger, forefinger, thumb, paw, feeler, antenna, palpus, tactual, tactile, tangible, palpable, lambent.

Inquiry

N inquiry, request, search, research, quest, pursuit, examination, review, scrutiny, investigation, indagation, perquisition, perscrutation, pervestigation, inquest, inquisition, exploration, exploitation, ventilation, sifting, calculation, analysis, dissection, resolution, induction, Baconian method, strict inquiry, close inquiry, searching inquiry, exhaustive inquiry, narrow search, strict search, study, scire facias, ad referendum, trial, questioning, interrogation, interrogatory, interpellation, challenge, examination, cross-examination, catechism, feeler, Socratic method, zetetic philosophy, leading question, discussion, reconnoitering, reconnaissance, prying, espionage, espionnage, domiciliary visit, peep behind the curtain, lantern of Diogenes, question, query, problem, desideratum, point to be solved, porism, subject of inquiry, field of inquiry, subject of controversy, point in dispute, matter in dispute, moot point, issue, question at issue, bone of contention, plain question, fair question, open question, enigma, knotty point, quodlibet, threshold of an inquiry, inquirer, investigator, inquisitor, inspector, querist, examiner, catechist, scrutator scrutineer scrutinizer, analyst, quidnunc, inquiry, inquisitive, requisitive, requisitory, catechetical, inquisitorial, analytic, in search of, in quest of, on the lookout for, interrogative, zetetic, all searching, undetermined, untried, undecided, in question, in dispute, in issue, in course of inquiry, under discussion, under consideration, under investigation, sub judice, moot, proposed, doubtful, quaere?, what?, why?, wherefore?, whence?, whither?, where?, how comes it?, how happens it?, how is it?, what is the reason?, what's the matter?, nicht wahr?, what's in the wind?, what on earth?, when?, who?.

Experiment

N experiment, essay, analysis, screen, trial, tentative method, t=atonnement, verification, probation, experimentum crucis, proof, (demonstration), criterion, diagnostic, test, probe, crucial test, acid test, litmus test, crucible, reagent, check, touchstone, pix, assay, ordeal, ring, litmus paper, curcuma paper, turmeric paper, test tube, analytical instruments, empiricism, rule of thumb, feeler, trial balloon, pilot balloon, messenger balloon, pilot engine, scout, straw to show the wind, speculation, random shot, leap in the dark, analyzer, analyst, assayist, adventurer, experimenter, experimentist, experimentalist, scientist, engineer, technician, subject, experimentee, guinea pig, experimental animal, protocol, experimental method, blind experiment, double-blind experiment, controlled experiment, poll, survey, opinion poll, epidemiological survey, retrospective analysis, retrospective survey, prospective survey, prospective analysis, statistical analysis, literature search, library research, tryout, audition, discovery, measurement, evidence, deduction, induction, abduction, experimental, empirical, probative, probatory, probationary, provisional, analytic, docimastic, tentative, unverified, unproven, speculative, untested, on trial, under examination, on probation, under probation, on one's trial, on approval, check it out, give it a try, see how it goes, Run it up the flagpole and see who salutes.