feather

feath·er  (fr) n. 1. One of the light, flat growths forming the plumage of birds, consisting of numerous slender, closely arranged parallel barbs forming a vane on either side of a horny, tapering, partly hollow shaft. 2. feathers Plumage. 3. feathers Clothing; attire. 4. A feathery tuft or fringe of hair, as on the legs or tail of some dogs. 5. Character, kind, or nature: Birds of a feather flock together. 6. Something small, trivial, or inconsequential. 7. a. A strip, wedge, or flange used as a strengthening part. b. A wedge or key that fits into a groove to make a joint. 8. The vane of an arrow. 9. A feather-shaped flaw, as in a precious stone. 10. The wake made by a submarine's periscope. 11. The act of feathering the blade of an oar in rowing. v. feath·ered, feath·er·ing, feath·ers v.tr. 1. To cover, dress, or decorate with or as if with feathers. 2. To fit (an arrow) with a feather. 3. a. To thin, reduce, or fringe the edge of by cutting, shaving, or wearing away. b. To shorten and taper (hair) by cutting and thinning. 4. To connect with a tongue-and-groove joint. 5. To turn (an oar blade) almost horizontal as it is carried back after each stroke. 6. a. To alter the pitch of (a propeller) so that the chords of the blades are parallel with the line of flight. b. To alter the pitch of (the rotor of a helicoptor) while in forward flight. 7. To turn off (an aircraft engine) while in flight. v.intr. 1. To grow feathers or become feathered. 2. To move, spread, or grow in a manner suggestive of feathers. 3. To feather an oar. 4. To feather a propeller. Idioms: feather in (one's) cap An act or deed to one's credit; a distinctive achievement. feather (one's) nest To grow wealthy by taking advantage of one's position or by making use of property or funds left in one's trust. in fine/good/high feather In excellent form, health, or humor. [Middle English fether, from Old English; see pet- in Indo-European roots.]

feather typical flight feather (left) and a magnified view of vanes (right)

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feather

Noun

1. any of the flat light structures that form the plumage of birds, each consisting of a shaft with soft thin hairs on either side

2. feather in one's cap a cause for pleasure at one's achievements

Verb

1. to fit, cover, or supply with feathers

2. Rowing to turn an oar parallel to the water between strokes, in order to lessen wind resistance

3. feather one's nest to collect possessions and money to make one's life comfortable, often dishonestly [Old English fether]

feathered adj
feathery adj

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feather  (fthr) One of the light, flat structures that cover the skin of birds. A feather is made of a horny substance and has a narrow, hollow shaft bearing flat vanes formed of many parallel barbs. The barbs of outer feathers are formed of even smaller structures (called barbules) that interlock. The barbs of down feathers do not interlock. Evolutionarily, feathers are modified scales, first seen in certain dinosaurs.

feather

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	feather - the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds plumage, plume bird - warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings down, down feather - soft fine feathers aftershaft - a supplementary feather (usually small) on the underside of the base of the shaft of some feathers in some birds contour feather - feathers covering the body of an adult bird and determining its shape bastard wing, spurious wing, alula - tuft of small stiff feathers on the first digit of a bird's wing marabou - the downy feathers of marabou storks are used for trimming garments web, vane - the flattened weblike part of a feather consisting of a series of barbs on either side of the shaft hackle - long slender feather on the necks of e.g. turkeys and pheasants quill, calamus, shaft - the hollow spine of a feather flight feather, quill feather, pinion, quill - any of the larger wing or tail feathers of a bird scapular - a feather covering the shoulder of a bird body covering - any covering for the body or a body part ceratin, keratin - a fibrous scleroprotein that occurs in the outer layer of the skin and in horny tissues such as hair, feathers, nails, and hooves animal material - material derived from animals melanin - insoluble pigments that account for the color of e.g. skin and scales and feathers
	2.	feather - turning an oar parallel to the water between pulls feathering rotary motion, rotation - the act of rotating as if on an axis; "the rotation of the dancer kept time with the music" rowing, row - the act of rowing as a sport
Verb	1.	feather - join tongue and groove, in carpentry conjoin, join - make contact or come together; "The two roads join here"
	2.	feather - cover or fit with feathers cover - provide with a covering or cause to be covered; "cover her face with a handkerchief"; "cover the child with a blanket"; "cover the grave with flowers"
	3.	feather - turn the paddle; in canoeing square paddle - propel with a paddle; "paddle your own canoe"
	4.	feather - turn the oar, while rowing square row - propel with oars; "row the boat across the lake"
	5.	feather - grow feathers; "The young sparrows are fledging already" fledge acquire, develop, produce, grow, get - come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes); "He grew a beard"; "The patient developed abdominal pains"; "I got funny spots all over my body"; "Well-developed breasts"

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feather

noun plume,

Translations

feather [ˈfɛðəʳ] n → pluma

vt to feather one's nest (fig) → hacer su agosto, sacar tajada cpd [mattress, bed, pillow] → de plumas

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feather [ˈfɛðəʳ] n → plume f

vt to feather one's nest (fig) → faire sa pelote cpd [bed etc] → de plumes

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feather [ˈfɛðəʳ] n → Feder f

cpd → Feder-;

(mattress) → Federkern-

vt to feather one's nest (fig) → sein Schäfchen ins Trockene bringen

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feather [ˈfɛðəʳ] n → penna

cpd [mattress, bed, pillow] → di piume

vt to feather one's nest (fig) → arricchirsi