feedback English · revision 6002

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1920}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈfiːd.bæk/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a compound, [[af|en|feed|back]], a noun from the verb with the adverb.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In electronics, the return of a fraction of the output signal of a circuit to the input of an earlier stage: 1920.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The control of a process or system by returning part of its output as input, as in biology and cybernetics, is from 1943.^(OED 1989) Information about the results of a process or of someone's work, returned to those responsible, is attested by 1955.^(Etymonline) The howling noise of a loudspeaker whose sound is picked up again by a microphone is also called feedback.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1920 – in electronics.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1943 – control of a system.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1955 – information about results.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Comments or information about how well someone has done something, given as a guide: ''customer feedback''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The return of part of the output of a system or circuit to its input, to control or modify it.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A high, whistling noise made when a [[microphone]] picks up sound from its own loudspeaker.^(Collins 2023)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[biofeedback]]

+ * [[feedback loop]]

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[feed]]

+ * [[back]]

+ * [[input]]

+ * [[output]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}