downy

adjective \ ˈdau̇-nē \

Updated on: 6 Mar 2018

Definition of downy

downier; downiest

1 : resembling a bird's down

2 : covered with down

3 : made of down

4 : soft, soothing

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Examples of downy in a Sentence

the downy surface of a ripe peach

Recent Examples of downy from the Web

At the base of each hair, the downy fur resembled the gradient pattern of quail feathers in an exotic ripple of gray changing to brown.

— author: christine cunningham, Anchorage Daily News, "The plan was to get a pair of beaver mittens and learn a new skill. The therapy was a bonus.," 28 Feb. 2018
Rainbow,’ this time offering 4-inch rows of downy-white tepals and the same recurved, dark red styles.

— earl nickel, San Francisco Chronicle, "Grevilleas for the fall garden," 27 Oct. 2017
This dinosaur was smaller than the T. rex, but about the same size as the Albertosaurus and Gorgosaurus, which means that size can’t be the only factor that determines whether or not a dino sports a downy coat.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "T. Rex Was Likely Covered in Scales, Not Feathers," 8 June 2017
Mr. Quesne, a French theatermaker and visual artist, has fashioned a downy winter landscape at the Kitchen and populated it with a hatchback full of chip-eating, beer-drinking, AC/DC-loving hard rockers.

— alexis soloski, New York Times, "Subscribe to the Theater Newsletter," 11 Jan. 2017
Big Bop’ll trade a B flat for a B, A neck for a neck, a tooth for a tee, A downy quilt bedbug for a fur cap-fat flea—

— adrienne raphel, New Republic, "Boardwalk Block," 2 June 2017
Downy beds and local Steadfast Coffee and pastries served in the courtyard encourage lazy mornings.

— elaine glusac, New York Times, "Hotels and Resorts for Romance of All Kinds," 15 Apr. 2017
Layla Richards was a bouncy 7 pound, 10 ounce baby with downy dark hair and plump cheeks when she was born in a London hospital in June 2014.

— madhumita murgia, Newsweek, "How Scientists in Britain Are Deciding the Future of Humanity," 28 Dec. 2016
More than a thousand of the stately birds huddled in a protective circle, many straddling a single egg or feeding a downy gray chick.

— doug hansen, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Cruising around Cape Horn is South American adventure," 29 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'downy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.