plume
IPA: pɫˈum
noun
- (archaic, literary and poetic) A feather of a bird, especially a large or showy one used as a decoration.
- (archaic, literary and poetic) A cluster of feathers worn as an ornament, especially on a helmet; a hackle.
- (figurative) A token of honour or prowess; that on which one prides oneself; a prize or reward.
- The vane (“flattened, web-like part”) of a feather, especially when on a quill pen or the fletching of an arrow.
- Things resembling a feather.
- A cloud formed by a dispersed substance fanning out or spreading.
- An upward spray of mist or water.
- (astronomy) An arc of glowing material (chiefly gases) erupting from the surface of a star.
- (botany) A large and flexible panicle of an inflorescence resembling a feather, such as is seen in certain large ornamental grasses.
- (zoology) A body part resembling a feather.
- The furry tail of certain dog breeds (such as the Samoyed) that curls over their backs or stands erect.
- More fully gill plume: a feathery gill of some crustaceans and molluscs.
- Short for plume moth (“a small, slender moth of the family Pterophoridae”). [(zoology) Any one of numerous small, slender moths, belonging to the family Pterophoridae, most of which have wings deeply divided into two or more plumelike lobes, some species of which are injurious to the grapevine.]
- (geology) Short for mantle plume (“an upwelling of abnormally hot molten material from the Earth's mantle which spreads sideways when it reaches the lithosphere”). [(geology) An upwelling of abnormally hot molten material from the Earth's mantle which spreads sideways when it reaches the lithosphere.]
verb
- (transitive, also figurative) To adorn, cover, or furnish with feathers or plumes, or as if with feathers or plumes.
- (transitive, reflexive) Chiefly of a bird: to arrange and preen the feathers of, specifically in preparation for flight; hence (figurative), to prepare for (something).
- (transitive, reflexive, by extension) To congratulate (oneself) proudly, especially concerning something unimportant or when taking credit for another person's effort; to self-congratulate.
- (transitive, archaic) To strip (a bird) of feathers; to pluck.
- (by extension) To peel, to strip completely; to pillage; also, to deprive of power.
- (falconry, obsolete) Of a hawk: to pluck the feathers from prey.
- (intransitive) Of a dispersed substance such as dust or smoke: to fan out or spread in a cloud.
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Examples of "plume" in Sentences
- Where did these plumes come from
- The designer made a dress with plumes.
- Ancient birds used to have bigger plume.
- The size of plumes varies according to rank.
- Plumes flow backward along the sides of the headdress.
- In the past, this bird was a victim of the plume trade.
- Plumes were everywhere after birds flocked their wings.
- Both have straight plumes in the front of the headdress.
- Both the hilt and scabbard are elaborately carved and plumed.
- The hackle is a feather plume that is attached to the headdress.