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preen was our Word of the Day on 01/20/2013. Hear the podcast!
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Recent Examples of preen from the Web
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There’s Preen for vegetable gardens (Vegetable Garden Weed Preventer) and Preen for ornamental gardens and landscapes (Flowers Trees and Shrubs Weed Preventer).
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Mountain View Fun Mr. Pickles Loves to chirp, talk, play and bathe But must stop to preen.
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Mountain View Fun Mr. Pickles Loves to chirp, talk, play and bathe But must stop to preen.
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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.
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 yearRecent Examples of preen from the Web
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As many as eight shrill-squawking, preening peacocks roost regularly at night in the branches of the towering oak tree that shades the front yard of Wright’s one-story home in Oakland, a town of 2,600 people about 16 miles west of Orlando.
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Trump himself has shown the sector little love while preening over the stock market’s performance.
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Kennedy’s additional roles include a bodyguard, two directors, two more locals, a Christian brother and Caroline, the preening American film star who’d give anything to look and sound more Irish — including sleeping with the natives.
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Up above, ministers preened and fretted over the lack of snowfall.
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As a player, Ewing was never the type to pontificate or preen, to dwell on much more than the moment at hand.
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Proof that the couple who preens together, stays together?
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In complying with that final edict, Foles does not strut or preen.
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The Chiefs proceeded to pose and preen all day long.
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.
First Known Use of preen
1572
Definition of preen
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
1
: to make oneself sleek
2
: to behave or speak with obvious pride or self-satisfaction
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preener
nounPREEN Defined for Kids
verb
\
ˈprēn
\
Definition of preen for Students
preened;
preening
1
: to smooth and clean with the bill
- The sparrow preened its feathers.
2
: to make a person's own appearance neat and tidy
- He preened himself in front of the mirror.
Learn More about preen
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See words that rhyme with preen Spanish Central: Translation of preen Nglish: Translation of preen for Spanish speakers
Seen and Heard
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