A feature of rule ordering. Two phonological rules are said to be in a feeding order if the earlier rule creates environments in which the later rule can apply. Imagine two rules, the first of which changes the value of the feature [nasal] from – to + for some consonants in a certain environment and the second of which changes the feature of nasal from – to + for vowels before [+nasal] consonants. After the operation of the first rule there will be more vowels before [+nasal] consonants for the second rule to apply to.
See also bleeding.