plume
/ˈplum/ verb C2- To adorn, cover, or furnish with feathers or plumes, or as if with feathers or plumes.
- Chiefly of a bird: to arrange and preen the feathers of, specifically in preparation for flight; hence (figurative), to prepare for (something).
- To congratulate (oneself) proudly, especially concerning something unimportant or when taking credit for another person's effort; to self-congratulate; to preen. · He plumes himself on his skill.
- Of a dispersed substance such as dust or smoke: to fan out or spread in a cloud. · Smoke plumed from his pipe, then slowly settled towards the floor.
Plural plume · He/she/it plumes · Past plumed · Past participle plumed · -ing form pluming
Verb forms
- Base form
- plume
- He/she/it
- plumes
- Past
- plumed
- Past participle
- plumed
- -ing form
- pluming
From the library
“Porlock, Watson, is a nom-de-plume, a mere identification mark; but behind it lies a shifty and evasive personality.
Where was the wholesome punishment upon which she, Marilla, had plumed herself?
We each write under a nom-de-plume.
But the skilful manner in which Dantès had handled the lugger had entirely reassured him; and then, when he saw the light plume of smoke floating above the bastion of the Château d’If, and heard the distant report, he was instantly struck with the idea that he had on board his vessel one whose coming and going, like that of kings, was accompanied with salutes of artillery.
Other matches
Learn plume in real texts
With a free account, hover any word in the library for its meaning, hear it read aloud, save words for review timed to your memory, and see how much of each book you already know.