preen

verb (1)

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\ ˈprēn

preened; preening; preens

Definition of preen

(Entry 1 of 3)

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

preen

noun

Definition of preen (Entry 2 of 3)

1 dialectal, chiefly British : pin

2 dialectal, chiefly British : brooch

preen

verb (2)

preened; preening; preens

Definition of preen (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb

chiefly Scotland

: pin

Other Words from preen Did you know? Example Sentences Learn More About preen

Did you know?

Preen hatched in 14th-century Middle English, and early on it displayed various spelling forms, including prenen, prayne, prene, and preyne. The word traces to Anglo-French puroindre, or proindre, linking pur-, meaning "thoroughly," with uindre, oindre, meaning "to anoint or rub." One of the first writers known to apply preen to the human act of primping was Geoffrey Chaucer in The Canterbury Tales. Centuries later (sometime during the late 19th century), the prideful meaning of preen hatched, joining another bird-related word, plume, which was being used with the meaning "to pride or congratulate (oneself)" from the first half of the 17th century.

Examples of preen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Keas traditionally use their beaks to preen themselves. — David Kindy, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Sep. 2021 The goose will preen her ponytail while vocalizing with a playlist of notes and volumes. — Kevin Spear, orlandosentinel.com, 24 Nov. 2021 Albatrosses in matrimonial sync will tenderly preen each other and cuddle in their nest. — Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 23 Nov. 2021 Birds also instinctually preen themselves to remove anything on their feathers, which exposes them to ingesting toxic amounts of oil, Anderson says. — Brandon Griggs, CNN, 5 Oct. 2021 Now with the flood of billions of dollars in CARES Act and American Rescue Plan funding, the feds are providing nothing new but a PR opportunity for mayors and others to preen about housing and homelessness. — Paul Webster, National Review, 28 Sep. 2021 Using his tongue, the parrot holds the small stone in place to preen his plumage. — David Kindy, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Sep. 2021 While the pandemic drove the world indoors for safety, an evolutionary desire to preen ourselves proved tough to stifle. — New York Times, 14 July 2021 Miraculously, the story grants an exemption to the virtuous white elites who have taken on black people as their moral wards—whites who preen and shake their fists and lament the iniquity, inequity and shame of it all. — Lance Morrow, WSJ, 16 May 2021 See More

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.

History and Etymology for preen

Verb (1)

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 entry 1, ointment

Noun

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