Illustration of plume
- P plume 2a
1
: a feather of a bird: such as
a
: a large conspicuous or showy feather
b
c
: plumage
d
: a cluster of distinctive feathers
2
a
: material (such 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): such 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
plumed; pluming
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)
Synonyms
Examples of plume in a Sentence
Noun
a hat with bright ostrich plumes
the Nobel Prize for Literature is the plume that all authors covet
Verb
that jerk plumes himself on his supposed athletic skills
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Kan, PCMAG, 14 Sep. 2023
Even his dahlias, plump like pincushions in plumes of white, purple and pink, took home first prize.
—Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2023
The volcanic eruption shot gas and ash 36 miles up into Earth’s mesosphere, higher than the plume from any other volcano on record.
—Rahul Rao, Popular Science, 7 Sep. 2023
The female plumes are much bigger and more wispy-looking.
—Savanna Bous, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Sep. 2023
Known for the plumes of fog that build up in the valleys between the mountains — settling like smoke over the peaks — the Smokies are teeming with plant and animal life as well as southern culture.
—Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2023
As fires have burned to the north and west of New Orleans, smoke plumes have entered the city at times, reducing air quality.
—Amudalat Ajasa, Anchorage Daily News, 29 Aug. 2023
The footprints are everywhere: from the leaky pipelines and cargo trains that unleash toxic plumes above Ohio one month to explosive chemicals mysteriously disappearing across Western plains the next.
—Matthew King, The New Republic, 18 Aug. 2023
In the late 1800s, great egrets were hunted nearly to extinction because their plumes were prized for ladies’ hats.
—Jennie Rothenberg Gritz, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023
Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 3 May 2023
Not known for subtlety, Derby hats this year offered a range of colors and fabrics, from elegant to loud, floral to plumed and everything in between.
—The Styles Desk, New York Times, 6 May 2023
Crist explained to The Enquirer that acid rain often becomes a concern when there are continuous emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which typically originate from power plants with large smokestacks that push smoke plumes upward at high velocities.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 17 Feb. 2023
The initial eruption produced a ~15 kilometers plume that towered over the region and dumped upwards of 40 centimeters of ash and larger volcanic debris on some areas.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 23 Apr. 2015
Its most interesting ideas plume briefly, only to fizzle out like far-off firecrackers.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 13 June 2022
The map becomes distorted, and the insect no longer associates that plume with the flower.
—Jennifer Clare Ball, Wired, 25 Feb. 2022
Toilet plume aside, Winner says the steel surfaces, doorknobs, and toilet handles in a public restroom pose the greatest risk.
—Claire Gillespie, Health.com, 16 June 2020
Patrick still painted, filling the family home with idyllic landscapes: a single cabin in the mountains with smoke pluming from its chimney, or a lone figure in a canoe paddling through the wilderness.
—Alex Perry, Outside Online, 24 July 2019
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Noun
In this case, the innermost jet plumes have been measured at a velocity of 48 to 60 miles per second.
—Michael Kan, PCMAG, 14 Sep. 2023
Even his dahlias, plump like pincushions in plumes of white, purple and pink, took home first prize.
—Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2023
The volcanic eruption shot gas and ash 36 miles up into Earth’s mesosphere, higher than the plume from any other volcano on record.
—Rahul Rao, Popular Science, 7 Sep. 2023
The female plumes are much bigger and more wispy-looking.
—Savanna Bous, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Sep. 2023
Known for the plumes of fog that build up in the valleys between the mountains — settling like smoke over the peaks — the Smokies are teeming with plant and animal life as well as southern culture.
—Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2023
As fires have burned to the north and west of New Orleans, smoke plumes have entered the city at times, reducing air quality.
—Amudalat Ajasa, Anchorage Daily News, 29 Aug. 2023
The footprints are everywhere: from the leaky pipelines and cargo trains that unleash toxic plumes above Ohio one month to explosive chemicals mysteriously disappearing across Western plains the next.
—Matthew King, The New Republic, 18 Aug. 2023
In the late 1800s, great egrets were hunted nearly to extinction because their plumes were prized for ladies’ hats.
—Jennie Rothenberg Gritz, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023
Verb
High above her a column of black smoke plumed over the trees.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 3 May 2023
Not known for subtlety, Derby hats this year offered a range of colors and fabrics, from elegant to loud, floral to plumed and everything in between.
—The Styles Desk, New York Times, 6 May 2023
Crist explained to The Enquirer that acid rain often becomes a concern when there are continuous emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which typically originate from power plants with large smokestacks that push smoke plumes upward at high velocities.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 17 Feb. 2023
The initial eruption produced a ~15 kilometers plume that towered over the region and dumped upwards of 40 centimeters of ash and larger volcanic debris on some areas.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 23 Apr. 2015
Its most interesting ideas plume briefly, only to fizzle out like far-off firecrackers.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 13 June 2022
The map becomes distorted, and the insect no longer associates that plume with the flower.
—Jennifer Clare Ball, Wired, 25 Feb. 2022
Toilet plume aside, Winner says the steel surfaces, doorknobs, and toilet handles in a public restroom pose the greatest risk.
—Claire Gillespie, Health.com, 16 June 2020
Patrick still painted, filling the family home with idyllic landscapes: a single cabin in the mountains with smoke pluming from its chimney, or a lone figure in a canoe paddling through the wilderness.
—Alex Perry, Outside Online, 24 July 2019
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'plume.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
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Cite this Entry
“Plume.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plume. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
plume
1 of 2 noun1
: a feather of a bird
especially
: one that is large and showy
2
a
: a feather or tuft of feathers worn as an ornament (as on a hat)
b
: a deserved prize or reward
3
: something that resembles a feather (as in shape or lightness)
a plume of smoke
plumy
adjective
ˈplü-mē
plume
2 of 2 verb
plumed; pluming
1
: to provide or adorn with feathers
2
: to act with too much pride in oneself
plumed himself on his swimming skill
3
: to arrange the feathers of : preen
a bird pluming itself
More from Merriam-Webster on 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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