plume

[ ploom ]

/ plum /

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See synonyms for plume on Thesaurus.com

noun

a feather.

a large, long, or conspicuous feather: the brilliant plume of a peacock.

a soft, fluffy feather: the plume of an egret.

any plumose part or formation.

a feather, a tuft of feathers, or some substitute, worn as an ornament, as on a hat, helmet, etc.

a feather or featherlike token of honor or distinction, especially one worn on a helmet.

plumage.

a vertically or longitudinally moving, rising, or expanding fluid body, as of smoke or water.

a visible pattern of smoke resulting from emissions from a stack, flue, or chimney.

Also called mantle plume. Geology. a deep-seated upwelling of magma within the earth's mantle.Compare diapir.

verb (used with object), plumed, plum·ing.

to furnish, cover, or adorn with plumes or feathers.

(of a bird) to preen (itself or its feathers).

to feel complacent satisfaction with (oneself); pride (oneself) (often followed by on or upon): She sat before the mirror, pluming herself upon her beauty.

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Origin of plume

1350–1400; earlier plome, plume,Middle English plume<Middle French <Latin plūma soft feather (>Old English plūm-, in plūmfether downy feather)

OTHER WORDS FROM plume

plumeless, adjectiveplumelike, adjectivere·plume, verb (used with object), re·plumed, re·plum·ing.

Words nearby plume

plumbous oxide, plumb rule, plumbum, plumcot, plum duff, plume, plumed, plumelet, plume moth, plume oneself, plumeria

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use plume in a sentence

The first was a plume of moisture from Tropical Storm Fausto, far to the south, which managed to travel north to California on the wind and provide just enough moisture to form clouds.
What’s behind August 2020’s extreme weather? Climate change and bad luck|Carolyn Gramling|August 27, 2020|Science News
The extent to which fecal aerosol plumes are infecting people with the SARS-CoV-2 virus isn’t known, said Queensland’s Morawska.
Scientists found coronavirus in a long-vacant apartment. A possible spreader? ‘Fecal aerosol plumes’|Claire Zillman, reporter|August 27, 2020|Fortune
The rising plume lifted up record amounts of water and carbon monoxide.
Australian wildfires pumped smoke to record heights|Maria Temming|July 27, 2020|Science News For Students
It was one of the largest wildfire smoke plumes ever seen in the stratosphere, says Jessica Smith.
Australian wildfires pumped smoke to record heights|Maria Temming|July 27, 2020|Science News For Students

Those winds have never been observed around similar plumes, researchers report online May 30 in Geophysical Research Letters.
Smoke from Australian fires rose higher into the ozone layer than ever before|Maria Temming|June 15, 2020|Science News
For one month in 2013, a British street artist known by the nom de plume of Banksy hypnotized the city of New York.
Catch Him If You Can: Reliving Banksy’s New York Invasion|Alex Suskind|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Borgman has escaped through a tunnel, leaving a plume of smoke in his wake.
The Twisted Sadism of ‘Borgman’|Alex Suskind|June 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Reprinted with the permission of Plume, a member of the Penguin Group.
Rick Moody: Why I Write|Rick Moody|February 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Mark Owen (the nom de plume for Matt Bissonnette) carefully recounts his life and career as a member of SEAL Team 6.
From ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ to ‘Medal of Honor’ Video Game: The SEAL Team Six Gift Guide|Benjamin Schor|December 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST
As ocean currents head eastward across the Pacific, the plume is expected eventually to hit the West Coast of the United States.
Japanese Debris Plume From Tsunami Migrating Across Pacific Ocean|Daniel Stone|March 9, 2012|DAILY BEAST
It mounted straight as a plume for a little way, until it met the cool air of evening which was beginning to fall.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden
Each tiny tree was a plume of leaves; the rows stretched out to the hilltop, and over.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden
The sun-kissed flowers plume the day with colour, and fling incense to the winds.
Charles Baudelaire, His Life|Thophile Gautier
Corn Plume looked down at the Squash Maiden sitting on her blanket at his feet.
Stories the Iroquois Tell Their Children|Mabel Powers
Her heart sang, when she heard the voice of Corn Plume, for she knew that he was calling her.
Stories the Iroquois Tell Their Children|Mabel Powers

British Dictionary definitions for plume

plume

/ (pluːm) /

noun

a feather, esp one that is large or ornamental

a feather or cluster of feathers worn esp formerly as a badge or ornament in a headband, hat, etc

biology any feathery part, such as the structure on certain fruits and seeds that aids dispersal by wind

something that resembles a plumea plume of smoke

a token or decoration of honour; prize

geology a rising column of hot, low viscosity material within the earth's mantle, which is believed to be responsible for linear oceanic island chains and flood basaltsAlso called: mantle plume

verb (tr)

to adorn or decorate with feathers or plumes

(of a bird) to clean or preen (itself or its feathers)

(foll by on or upon) to pride or congratulate (oneself)

Derived forms of plume

plumeless, adjectiveplumelike, adjective

Word Origin for plume

C14: from Old French, from Latin plūma downy feather

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 plume

plume

[ plōōm ]

A feather, especially a large one.

A body of magma that rises from the Earth's mantle into the crust.♦ If a plume rises to the Earth's surface, it erupts as lava. ♦ If it remains below the Earth's surface, it eventually solidifies into a body of rock known as a pluton.

An area in air, water, soil, or rock containing pollutants released from a single source. A plume often spreads in the environment due to the action of wind, currents, or gravity.

plume

Origin of plume

OTHER WORDS FROM plume

Words nearby plume

Words related to plume

How to use plume in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for plume

Derived forms of plume

Word Origin for plume

Scientific definitions for plume