preen (pr n)v. preened, preen·ing, preens v.tr. 1. a. To smooth or clean (feathers) with the beak or bill. b. To trim or clean (fur) with the tongue, as cats do. 2. To dress or groom (oneself) with elaborate care; primp. 3. To take pride or satisfaction in (oneself); gloat. v.intr. 1. To dress up; primp. 2. To swell with pride; gloat or exult. [Middle English proinen, preinen, blend of Old French proignier, to prune; see prune2, and Old French poroindre, to anoint before (por-, before from Latin pr  -; see pro-1 + oindre, to anoint from Latin unguere).]preen  er n. |
preen1
vb
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) (of birds) to maintain (feathers) in a healthy condition by arrangement, cleaning, and other contact with the bill
2. to dress or array (oneself) carefully; primp
3. (usually foll by on) to pride or congratulate (oneself)
[C14 preinen, probably from prunen to prune3, influenced by prenen to prick, pin (see preen2); suggestive of the pricking movement of the bird's beak]
preener n
preen2
n
Scot a pin, esp a decorative one
[Old English prēon a pin; related to Middle High German pfrieme awl, Dutch priem bodkin]
Preen of creative directors—Ruffner, 1983.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Verb | 1. | preen - clean with one's bill; "The birds preened" arrange, set up - put into a proper or systematic order; "arrange the books on the shelves in chronological order" clean, make clean - make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from; "Clean the stove!"; "The dentist cleaned my teeth" |
| 2. | preen - pride or congratulate (oneself) for an achievement | |
| 3. | preen - dress or groom with elaborate care; "She likes to dress when going to the opera" attire, deck out, deck up, dress up, fancy up, fig out, fig up, rig out, tog out, tog up, trick out, trick up, gussy up, overdress, prink, get up - put on special clothes to appear particularly appealing and attractive; "She never dresses up, even when she goes to the opera"; "The young girls were all fancied up for the party" dress, get dressed - put on clothes; "we had to dress quickly"; "dress the patient"; "Can the child dress by herself?" |
preen
verb
1. (often reflexive) smarten, admire, dress up, doll up (slang), trim, array, deck out, spruce up, prettify, primp, trig (archaic or dialect), titivate, prink He spent half an hour preening in front of the mirror. 20 minutes preening themselves every morning
2. (of birds) clean, smooth, groom, tidy, plume The linnet shook herself and preened a few feathers on her breast.
preen yourself pride yourself, congratulate yourself, give yourself a pat on the back, pique yourself, plume yourself the desire to brag and preen himself over his abilities
Translations
preen [priːn] VT [+ feathers] → arreglarse con el pico
to preen itself [bird] → arreglarse las plumas con el pico
to preen o.s [person] → pavonearse, atildarse
to preen o.s. on → enorgullecerse de, jactarse de
to preen itself [bird] → arreglarse las plumas con el pico
to preen o.s [person] → pavonearse, atildarse
to preen o.s. on → enorgullecerse de, jactarse de
preen [ˈpriːn]
vt
to preen o.s. (= fuss over one's appearance) → se pomponner
vi
[bird] → lisser ses plumes
preen [priːn] vt
preen [priːn] vt
a. (feathers) → lisciare (con il becco)
the bird was preening itself → l'uccello si stava lisciando le piume
he was preening himself in front of the mirror (fig) (pej) → stava lisciandosi davanti allo specchio
the bird was preening itself → l'uccello si stava lisciando le piume
he was preening himself in front of the mirror (fig) (pej) → stava lisciandosi davanti allo specchio
b. to preen o.s. on sth/on doing sth (liter, pej) → compiacersi di qc/di fare qc
preen [priːn] vt
a. (feathers) → lisciare (con il becco)
the bird was preening itself → l'uccello si stava lisciando le piume
he was preening himself in front of the mirror (fig) (pej) → stava lisciandosi davanti allo specchio
the bird was preening itself → l'uccello si stava lisciando le piume
he was preening himself in front of the mirror (fig) (pej) → stava lisciandosi davanti allo specchio
b. to preen o.s. on sth/on doing sth (liter, pej) → compiacersi di qc/di fare qc
v preen [priːn]
1 (of birds) to arrange (the feathers) The sea-gulls were preening themselves / their feathers. glad stryk يُرَتِّبُ الطائِر ريشَه чистя с клюн rovnat si (peří) pudse putzen σιάζω τα φτερά μου (για πουλί) arreglar/alisar con el pico (sulestikku) kohendama پر و بال آراستن sukia lisser ses plumes לְנָקוֹת נוֹצוֹת בַּמָקוֹר बनना-ठनना, संवारना čistiti se,kljunom(ptica) tollászkodik merapikan bulu snyrta fjaðrirnar (lisciarsi le penne) 羽を整える (새가 날개를) 부리로 다듬다 valyti (plunksnas) (par putniem) sakārtot/tīrīt spalvas menyelisik de veren gladstrijken pusse fjærene muskać (pióra) alisar as penas a-şi curăţa (penele) чистить перья čistiť si; čuchrať si (perie) čistiti si perje čistiti perje putsa ไซ้ขนด้วยปาก tüylerini düzeltmek (鳥)用嘴梳理(羽毛) чистити дзьобом پروں کو صاف کرنا rỉa lông （鸟）用嘴梳理（羽毛）
2 used unkindly, meaning to attend to one's appearance The woman was preening herself in front of the mirror. tooi يتأنَّق، يَتَباهى нагласям се parádit se gøre sig til sich herausputzen στολίζομαι, καμαρώνομαι acicalarse kenitlema خود را آراستن tälläytyä se pomponner לְהִתגַנדֵר dotjerati se,lickati se csinosítja magát berdandan, bersolek snyrta sig agghindarsi めかしこむ 몸치장을 하다, 우쭐대다 gražinti(s), pustyti(s) []posties; izdaiļoties bersolek zich optooien pynte seg wdzięczyć się embonecar-se a se găti, a se dichisi прихорашиваться parádiť sa lišpati se lickati se snygga till sig, kråma sig แต่งตัวให้สวยงาม süslenip püslenmek 打扮 причепурюватися سنوارنا làm dáng 打扮
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