feather

[ feth -er ]

/ ˈfɛð ər /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR feather ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

one of the horny structures forming the principal covering of birds, consisting typically of a hard, tubular portion attached to the body and tapering into a thinner, stemlike portion bearing a series of slender, barbed processes that interlock to form a flat structure on each side.

kind; character; nature: two boys of the same feather.

something like a feather, as a tuft or fringe of hair.

something very light, small, or trivial: Your worry is a mere feather.

Archery. one of the vanes at the tail of an arrow or dart.

Carpentry. a spline for joining the grooved edges of two boards.

Masonry. See under plug and feathers.

a featherlike flaw, especially in a precious stone.

Machinery. feather key.

Archaic. attire.

Obsolete. plumage.

verb (used with object)

to provide with feathers, as an arrow.

to clothe or cover with or as with feathers.

Rowing. to turn (an oar) after a stroke so that the blade becomes nearly horizontal, and hold it thus as it is moved back into position for the next stroke.

Aeronautics.

to change the blade angle of (a propeller) so that the chords of the blades are approximately parallel to the line of flight.
to turn off (an engine) while in flight.

verb (used without object)

to grow feathers.

to be or become feathery in appearance.

to move like feathers.

Rowing. to feather an oar.

Verb Phrases

feather into, South Midland U.S. to attack (a person, task, or problem) vigorously.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?

Question 1 of 10

decorum

the act of or need for making up one's mind.

dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.

a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for feather

a feather in one's cap, a praiseworthy accomplishment; distinction; honor: Being chosen class president is a feather in her cap.

birds of a feather. bird(def 15).

feather one's nest, to take advantage of the opportunities to enrich oneself: The mayor had used his term of office to feather his nest.

in fine/high feather, in good form, humor, or health: feeling in fine feather.

ruffle someone's feathers, to anger, upset, or annoy (another person).

smooth one's ruffled/rumpled feathers, to regain one's composure; become calm: After the argument, we each retired to our own rooms to smooth our ruffled feathers.

Origin of feather

before 900; Middle English, Old English fether; cognate with Dutch veder, German Feder, Old Norse fjǫthr; akin to Greek pterón, Sanskrit pátram wing, feather

OTHER WORDS FROM feather

feath·er·less, adjectivefeath·er·less·ness, nounfeath·er·like, adjective

Words nearby feather

feast of tabernacles, feast one's eyes on, feast or famine, feast-or-famine, feat, feather, feather banding, feather bed, feather duster, feather geranium, feather grass

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for feather

The Cessna landed like a feather on Bettles Field, a long, flat airstrip built by the Navy during World War II.
Visiting the Arctic Circle…Before It’s Irreversibly Changed|Terry Greene Sterling|April 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Feather had recorded as a pianist, and although he would never put Oscar Peterson out of business, he knew his sharps and flats.
Music Criticism Has Degenerated Into Lifestyle Reporting|Ted Gioia|March 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But Cruz and Paul are speaking to significantly different audiences, despite being wacko birds of a feather.
Ted Cruz Might Just Have Won the Future for the GOP|Nick Gillespie|September 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
They're doing their best, but they're fighting a dinosaur with a feather.
New Issue of Democracy: Money in Politics and Lots More|Michael Tomasky|January 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Loeb was notorious for front-page editorials that often employed a sledgehammer where a feather duster would do.
Joe McQuaid: Union Leader Publisher Is GOP Kingmaker in New Hampshire|Lloyd Grove|December 19, 2011|DAILY BEAST
During 1848 ten million dollars' worth of gold had been gathered on the Yuba, American and Feather rivers.
Peculiarities of American Cities|Willard Glazier
Whirling it like a feather round his head, the maniac rushed on.
The Madman and the Pirate|R.M. Ballantyne
Thus far, at least, are we safe; for which may Heaven alone be praised, since no art of mine could avail us a feather.
The Red Rover|James Fenimore Cooper
As the lion bounded away through the assembled party, it appeared as if the ox was not a feather's weight to him.
The Mission|Frederick Marryat
She was in a short tailored suit, Eton collar, Alpine hat and feather.
The Salamander|Owen Johnson

British Dictionary definitions for feather

feather

/ (ˈfɛðə) /

noun

any of the flat light waterproof epidermal structures forming the plumage of birds, each consisting of a hollow shaft having a vane of barbs on either side. They are essential for flight and help maintain body temperature

something resembling a feather, such as a tuft of hair or grass

archery

a bird's feather or artificial substitute fitted to an arrow to direct its flight
the feathered end of an arrow, opposite the head

a strip, spline, or tongue of wood fitted into a groove

the wake created on the surface of the water by the raised periscope of a submarine

rowing the position of an oar turned parallel to the water between strokesCompare square (def. 8)

a step in ballroom dancing in which a couple maintain the conventional hold but dance side by side

condition of spirits; fettlein fine feather

something of negligible value; jotI don't care a feather

birds of a feather people of the same type, character, or interests

feather in one's cap a cause for pleasure at one's achievementsyour promotion is a feather in your cap

not take a feather out of someone or not knock a feather out of someone Irish to fail to upset or injure someoneit didn't take a feather out of him

verb

(tr) to fit, cover, or supply with feathers

rowing to turn (an oar) parallel to the water during recovery between strokes, principally in order to lessen wind resistanceCompare square (def. 41)

(in canoeing) to turn (a paddle) parallel to the direction of the canoe between strokes, while keeping it in the water, principally in order to move silently

to change the pitch of (an aircraft propeller) so that the chord lines of the blades are in line with the airflow

(tr) to join (two boards) by means of a tongue-and-groove joint

(intr) (of a bird) to grow feathers

(intr) to move or grow like feathers

feather one's nest to provide oneself with comforts, esp financial

Derived forms of feather

featherless, adjectivefeather-like, adjectivefeathery, adjective

Word Origin for feather

Old English fether; related to Old Frisian fethere, Old Norse fjöthr feather, Old High German fedara wing, Greek petesthai to fly, Sanskrit patati he flies

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for feather

feather

[ fĕð′ər ]

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.

Idioms and Phrases with feather

feather

In addition to the idioms beginning with feather

feather in one's cap, a
feather one's nest

also see:

birds of a feather
fuss and feathers
in fine feather
knock down with a feather
light as a feather
make the dust (feathers) fly
ruffle someone's feathers
show the white feather
tar and feather

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feather