Definition of plume
1 : a feather of a bird: such asa : a large conspicuous or showy featherb : contour featherc : plumaged : a cluster of distinctive feathers
2a : material (such as a feather, cluster of feathers, or a tuft of hair) worn as an ornamentb : a token of honor or prowess : prize
3 : something resembling a feather (as in shape, appearance, or lightness): such asa : a plumose appendage of a plantb : 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 taild : 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
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Examples of plume in a Sentence
a hat with bright ostrich plumes
the Nobel Prize for Literature is the plume that all authors covet
Illustration of plume
Origin and Etymology of plume
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin pluma small soft feather — more at fleece
Other Geology Terms
anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale
plume
Definition of plume
plumed
;pluming
transitive verb
1a : to provide or deck with feathersb : 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 in a Sentence
that jerk plumes himself on his supposed athletic skills
First Known Use of plume
15th century
PLUME Defined for English Language Learners
plume
playDefinition of plume for English Language Learners
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: a feather or group of feathers on a bird
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: a decoration made of feathers or something similar
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: something (such as smoke, steam, or water) that rises into the air in a tall, thin shape
PLUME Defined for Kids
plume
playDefinition of plume for Students
1 : a large or showy feather of a bird
2 : an ornamental feather or tuft of feathers (as on a hat)
3 : something shaped like a large feather a plume of smoke
plumed
\ˈplümd\ adjective a plumed capLearn More about plume
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See words that rhyme with plume Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for plume Spanish Central: Translation of plume Nglish: Translation of plume for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of plume for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about plume
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