feeler
/ˈfilər/
noun
- A long, thin part on the head of an insect, crustacean, or other animal, used for touching and sensing the environment.
- The snail's feelers twitched as it moved across the leaf.
- Ants use their feelers to communicate with each other.
- The lobster's long feelers help it find food in dark water.
- A cautious remark or action made to test someone's reaction or opinion.
- He put out a feeler to see if his coworkers wanted to join a union.
- The company sent out feelers about a possible merger.
- I dropped a feeler about the party, but no one seemed interested.