plume

¹plume

noun \ˈplüm\

Definition of PLUME

1

: a feather of a bird: as

a : a large conspicuous or showy feather

b : contour feather

c : plumage

d : a cluster of distinctive feathers

2

a : material (as a feather, cluster of feathers, or a tuft of hair) worn as an ornament

b : a token of honor or prowess : prize

3

: something resembling a feather (as in shape, appearance, or lightness): as

a : a plumose appendage of a plant

b : an elongated and usually open and mobile column or band (as of smoke, exhaust gases, or blowing snow)

c : an animal structure having a main shaft bearing many hairs or filamentous parts; especially : a full bushy tail

d : any of several columns of molten rock rising from the earth's lower mantle that are theorized to drive tectonic plate movement and to underlie hot spots

Examples of PLUME

1. a hat with bright ostrich plumes
2. <the Nobel Prize for Literature is the plume that all authors covet>

Illustration of PLUME

Origin of PLUME

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin pluma small soft feather — more at fleece

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PLUME

Synonyms

accolade, blue ribbon, decoration, distinction, honor, kudo, award, premium, prize

Related Words

badge, crown, cup, laurel, medal, order, plaque, plate, ribbon, trophy; applause, bravo, encomium, eulogy, hallelujah, homage, paean, panegyric, plaudit, tribute; citation, commendation, compliment, honorable mention

Other Geology Terms

anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale

Rhymes with PLUME

bloom, boom, broom, brume, combe, cwm, doom, flume, fume, gloom, glume, groom, khoum, loom, neume, rheum, room, spume, tomb, toom, vroom, whom, womb, zoom

²plume

transitive verb

plumedplum·ing

Definition of PLUME

1

a : to provide or deck with feathers

b : to array showily

2

: to indulge (oneself) in pride with an obvious or vain display of self-satisfaction

3

of a bird

a : to preen and arrange the feathers of (itself)

b : to preen and arrange (feathers)

Examples of PLUME

1. <that jerk plumes himself on his supposed athletic skills>

First Known Use of PLUME

15th century

Related to PLUME

Synonyms

flatter, pique, pride

Related Words

boast, brag, crow, gasconade, swagger, swank, swash, vapor, vaunt; congratulate, felicitate

Other Birds Terms

aerie, bunting, clutch, covey, hackle, ratite, rictus, ruff, skein, zygodactyl