feather, plume, plumage
(noun) the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
plume
(noun) a feather or cluster of feathers worn as an ornament
plume
(noun) anything that resembles a feather in shape or lightness; “a plume of smoke”; “grass with large plumes”
preen, primp, plume, dress
(verb) dress or groom with elaborate care; “She likes to dress when going to the opera”
plume
(verb) form a plume; “The chimneys were pluming the sky”; “The engine was pluming black smoke”
preen, plume
(verb) clean with one’s bill; “The birds preened”
plume
(verb) deck with a plume; “a plumed helmet”
pride, plume, congratulate
(verb) be proud of; “He prides himself on making it into law school”
overcharge, soak, surcharge, gazump, fleece, plume, pluck, rob, hook
(verb) rip off; ask an unreasonable price
Source: WordNet® 3.1
plume (plural plumes)
A feather of a bird, especially a large or showy one.
The furry tail of certain dog breeds (e.g. Samoyed, Malteagle) that stands erect or curls over their backs.
A cluster of feathers worn as an ornament, especially on a helmet.
A token of honour or prowess; that on which one prides oneself; a prize or reward.
An area over which (or a space into which) a dispersed substance has spread or fanned out; a cloud.
An upward spray of water or mist.
(geology) An upwelling of molten material from the Earth's mantle.
(astronomy) An arc of glowing material erupting from the surface of a star.
A large and flexible panicle of inflorescence resembling a feather, such as is seen in certain large ornamental grasses.
plume (third-person singular simple present plumes, present participle pluming, simple past and past participle plumed)
(transitive) To preen and arrange the feathers of.
(transitive) To congratulate (oneself) proudly.
To strip of feathers; to pluck; to strip; to pillage; also, to peel.
To adorn with feathers or plumes.
To form a plume.
To write; to pen.
Source: Wiktionary
Plume, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. pluma. Cf. Fly, v.]
1. A feather; esp., a soft, downy feather, or a long, conspicuous, or handsome feather. Wings . . . of many a colored plume. Milton.
2. (Zoöl.)
Definition: An ornamental tuft of feathers.
3. A feather, or group of feathers, worn as an ornament; a waving ornament of hair, or other material resembling feathers. His high plume, that nodded o'er his head. Dryden.
4. A token of honor or prowess; that on which one prides himself; a prize or reward. "Ambitious to win from me some plume." Milton.
5. (Bot.)
Definition: A large and flexible panicle of inflorescence resembling a feather, such as is seen in certain large ornamental grasses. Plume bird (Zoöl.), any bird that yields ornamental plumes, especially the species of Epimarchus from New Guinea, and some of the herons and egrets, as the white heron of Florida (Ardea candidissima).
– Plume grass. (Bot) (a) A kind of grass (Erianthus saccharoides) with the spikelets arranged in great silky plumes, growing in swamps in the Southern United States. (b) The still finer E. Ravennæ from the Mediterranean region. The name is sometimes extended to the whole genus.
– Plume moth (Zoöl.), any one of numerous small, slender moths, belonging to the family Pterophoridæ. Most of them have the wings deeply divided into two or more plumelike lobes. Some species are injurious to the grapevine.
– Plume nutmeg (Bot.), an aromatic Australian tree (Atherosperma moschata), whose numerous carpels are tipped with long plumose persistent styles.
Plume, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Plumed; p. pr. & vb. n. Pluming.] Etym: [Cf. F. plumer to pluck, to strip, L. plumare to cover with feathers.]
1. To pick and adjust the plumes or feathers of; to dress or prink. Pluming her wings among the breezy bowers. W. Irving.
2. To strip of feathers; to pluck; to strip; to pillage; also, to peel. [Obs.] Bacon. Dryden.
3. To adorn with feathers or plumes. "Farewell the plumed troop." Shak.
4. To pride; to vaunt; to boast; -- used reflexively; as, he plumes himself on his skill. South. Plumed adder (Zoöl.), an African viper (Vipera, or Clotho, cornuta), having a plumelike structure over each eye. It is venomous, and is related to the African puff adder. Called also horned viper and hornsman.
– Plumed partridge (Zoöl.), the California mountain quail (Oreortyx pictus). See Mountain quail, under Mountain.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
22 February 2025
(noun) the use of closed-class words instead of inflections: e.g., ‘the father of the bride’ instead of ‘the bride’s father’
The first coffee-house in Mecca dates back to the 1510s. The beverage was in Turkey by the 1530s. It appeared in Europe circa 1515-1519 and was introduced to England by 1650. By 1675 the country had more than 3,000 coffee houses, and coffee had replaced beer as a breakfast drink.
