plume
pronunciation
How to pronounce plume in British English:
UK [plu:m]
How to pronounce plume in American English:
US [plum]
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- Noun:
- a feather or cluster of feathers worn as an ornament
- the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
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- Verb:
- rip off; ask an unreasonable price
- be proud of
- deck with a plume
- clean with one's bill
- form a plume
- dress or groom with elaborate care
Word Origin
- plume
- plume: [14] Latin plūma originally denoted ‘down, feathers’ (it is probably related to English fleece). Eventually, though, it came to signify a ‘single feather’, and evolved in this sense to Italian piuma, Spanish pluma, and French plume – source of English plume. The derivative plumage [15] originated in Old French.=> fleece, plumage
- plume (n.)
- late 14c., "a feather" (especially a large and conspicuous one), from Old French plume "soft feather, down; feather bed," and directly from Latin pluma "a feather, down; the first beard," from PIE root *pleus- "to pluck; a feather, fleece" (source of Old English fleos "fleece"). Meaning "a long streamer of smoke, etc." is first attested 1878.
- plume (v.)
- late 14c., "to pluck, strip," from plume (n.). From mid-15c. as "to adorn with plumes." Meaning "to dress the feathers" is from 1702. Related: Plumed; pluming.
Example
- 1. It kicked up a plume of dust and water .
- 2. The volcanic plume flows over ireland and the united kingdom from the northwest .
- 3. Planes would be allowed to fly through the thinner parts of the plume .
- 4. The image shows a smoke plume rising from the manhattan area .
- 5. The volcanic plume is yellow , while clouds are various shades of white to light gray .