Feeder (noun)

1. A device or machine used to supply food, material, or power to something else.
2. A person or thing that provides nourishment or supplies.
3. A tributary stream or river.
4. A person or animal that regularly eats at a particular place or in a particular way.
5. A line or pipe that conveys water, electricity, or other substance to a larger main line or system.

Origin:

Late middle english: from feed + -er.

Examples:

1. She put the cat food in the automatic feeder.
2. The feeder was an important part of the manufacturing process.
3. The feeder stream flowed into the larger river.
4. The birds were frequent feeders at the bird feeder.
5. The electrical feeder ran underground from the substation to the neighborhood.