Definition of feather
1a : any of the light, horny, epidermal outgrowths that form the external covering of the body of birds ◆Feathers include the smaller down feathers and the larger contour and flight feathers. Larger feathers consist of a shaft (rachis) bearing branches (barbs) which bear smaller branches (barbules). These smaller branches bear tiny hook-bearing processes (barbicels) which interlock with the barbules of an adjacent barb to link the barbs into a continuous stiff vane . Down feathers lack barbules, resulting in fluffy feathers which provide insulation below the contour feathers. b archaic : plume 2ac : the vane of an arrow
2a : plumageb : kind, nature birds of a feather flock togetherc : attire, dressd : condition, mood woke up in fine feathere feathers plural : composure some feathers had been ruffled — D. J. Blum
3 : feathering 2
4 : a projecting strip, rib, fin, or flange
5 : a feathery flaw in the eye or in a precious stone
6 : the act of feathering an oar
featherless
adjectivea feather in one's cap
: a mark of distinction : honor
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Examples of feather in a Sentence
the two brothers are sports-obsessed jocks, and most of their friends are of the same feather
prom couples strutted into the ballroom in full feather
Illustration of feather
Origin and Etymology of feather
Middle English fether, from Old English; akin to Old High German federa wing, Latin petere to go to, seek, Greek petesthai to fly, piptein to fall, pteron wing
First Known Use: before 12th century
feather
Definition of feather
feathered
;feathering
play \ˈfeth-riŋ, ˈfe-thə-\transitive verb
1a : to furnish (something, such as an arrow) with a featherb : to cover, clothe, or adorn with or as if with feathers
2a : to turn (an oar blade) almost horizontal when lifting from the water at the end of a stroke to reduce air resistanceb (1) : to change the angle of (airplane propeller blades) so that the chords become approximately parallel to the line of flight; also : to change the angle of airplane propeller blades of (an engine) in such a manner (2) : to change the angle of (a rotor blade of a rotorcraft) periodically in forward flight
3 : to reduce the edge of to a featheredge
4a of a bird : to cut (the air) with a wingb of a fish : to cut (the water) with a fin
5 : to join by a tongue and groove
6 : to hit, throw, pass, or shoot softly and usually with precision feathered a perfect lob over the net
intransitive verb
1 : to grow or form feathers
2 : to have or take on the appearance of a feather or something feathered
feather one's nest
13th Century
First Known Use of feather
13th century
Feather
playDefinition of Feather
river 100 miles (161 kilometers) long in north central California flowing south into the Sacramento River
FEATHER Defined for English Language Learners
feather
playDefinition of feather for English Language Learners
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: any one of the light growths that make up the outer covering of the body of a bird
feather
Definition of feather for English Language Learners
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: to put a feather in or on (something)
FEATHER Defined for Kids
Definition of feather for Students
: one of the light horny growths that make up the outer covering of a bird
feathered
\-thərd\ adjectiveDefinition of feather for Students
feathered
;feathering
1 : to provide or decorate with feathers
2 : to grow or form feathers
Medical Dictionary
feather
playMedical Definition of feather
: one of the light horny epidermal outgrowths that form the external covering of the body of birds and that consist of a shaft bearing on each side a series of barbs which bear barbules which in turn bear barbicels commonly ending in the hooked processes and interlocking with the barbules of an adjacent barb to link the barbs into a continuous vane
Learn More about feather
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See words that rhyme with feather Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for feather Spanish Central: Translation of feather Nglish: Translation of feather for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of feather for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about feather
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