preen

noun \ ˈprēn \

|Updated on: 11 Jun 2018

Definition of preen

1 dialectal, chiefly British : pin

2 dialectal, chiefly British : brooch

preen was our Word of the Day on 01/20/2013. Hear the podcast!

Recent Examples of preen from the Web

There’s Preen for vegetable gardens (Vegetable Garden Weed Preventer) and Preen for ornamental gardens and landscapes (Flowers Trees and Shrubs Weed Preventer).

— bonnie blodgett, Twin Cities, "Blundering Gardener: There’s a Preen for everything," 25 Feb. 2017
Mountain View Fun Mr. Pickles Loves to chirp, talk, play and bathe But must stop to preen.

— joan morris, The Mercury News, "Valentines to our furry and feathery pets," 13 Feb. 2017
Mountain View Fun Mr. Pickles Loves to chirp, talk, play and bathe But must stop to preen.

— joan morris, The Mercury News, "Valentines to our furry and feathery pets," 13 Feb. 2017
And for Bella Hadid, a glam squad session was a preen-worthy affair: the model posed for a nearly-nude capture amid touch-ups, her glossy brunette hair and abbreviated bangs playing well with opulent accents and lids smoked in metallic.

— calin van paris, Vogue, "The Best Beauty Instagrams of the Week: Selena Gomez, Victoria Beckham and More," 11 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of preen

Middle English prene, from Old English prēon; akin to Middle High German pfrieme awl

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

preen

verb

Definition of preen

preened; preening; preens

transitive verb

chiefly Scotland

: pin

Recent Examples of preen from the Web

Standing out is hardly a matter of preening or flaunting plumage.

— rebecca farley, refinery29.com, "The Bachelorette Season 14 Premiere Recap: Not Gonna Say It," 29 May 2018
Although Ichthyornis’s pincerlike beak was limited to the tip of its snout, it was likely used, like modern-day bird beaks, for precision tasks such as preening feathers and holding small objects.

— sid perkins, Scientific American, "New Fossils Offer Clues about a Primordial Bird Beak," 2 May 2018
The artist: Ariane Roesch Where: Gallery Sonja Roesch, through May 26 Why: Anyone fascinated by the way celebrities preen and parade like exotic birds down red carpets might get a chuckle with the central piece of Ariane Roesch’s show.

— molly glentzer, Houston Chronicle, "Art Daybook: Ariane Roesch gives social climbers the red-carpet treatment," 16 May 2018
Zhao eased through his high-flying beats and gliding brisés volés; Kuranaga preened and fluttered with her usual exquisite grace.

— jeffrey gantz, BostonGlobe.com, "Boston Ballet reawakens ‘Sleeping Beauty’," 12 May 2018
Against the backdrop of some of the Met's most iconic exhibition spaces, partygoers shimmied, strutted, posed, preened, and played in perfect harmony with medieval, Renaissance, classical Greek and Roman paintings and sculptures.

— bridget read, Vogue, "The Met Gala Turned Into a Giant Dance Party, and It's All on Instagram," 8 May 2018
Back to Blood is pervasively flamboyant, a passionate argument against (or maybe for) the bloodlessness of preening postmodernism.

— miamiherald, "Tom Wolfe’s ‘Back to Blood’ revels in excess — just like Miami | Miami Herald," 19 Oct. 2012
The agile jaw probably allowed the bird to preen its feathers and gave it a pincerlike grasp.

— gretchen vogel, Science | AAAS, "Fossils reveal how ancient birds got their beaks," 2 May 2018
For players at the top of the professional basketball food chain, just showing up has become an opportunity to preen.

— matthew schneier, New York Times, "In the N.B.A., a Game of Clothes Horse," 20 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of preen

1572

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

preen

verb

Definition of preen

preened; preening; preens

transitive verb

1 of a bird : to groom with the bill especially by rearranging the barbs and barbules of the feathers and by distributing oil from the uropygial gland

2 : to dress or smooth (oneself) up : primp

3 : to pride or congratulate (oneself) on an achievement

intransitive verb

1 : to make oneself sleek

2 : to behave or speak with obvious pride or self-satisfaction

—

preener

noun

Origin and Etymology of preen

Middle English prenen, alteration of proynen, prunen, from Anglo-French puroindre, proindre, from pur- thoroughly + uindre, oindre to anoint, rub, from Latin unguere — more at purchase, ointment

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year