plume

American  

[ploom] / plum /

noun

1. a feather.

2. a large, long, or conspicuous feather.

   the brilliant plume of a peacock.

3. a soft, fluffy feather.

   the plume of an egret.

4. any plumose part or formation.

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

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

7. plumage.

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

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

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

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verb (used with object)

plumed, pluming

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

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

3. to feel complacent satisfaction with (oneself ); pride (oneself ) (often followed by on orupon ).

   She sat before the mirror, pluming herself upon her beauty.

plume British  

/ pluːm /

noun

1. a feather, esp one that is large or ornamental

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

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

4. something that resembles a plume

   a plume of smoke

5. a token or decoration of honour; prize

6. Also called: mantle plume.  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 basalts

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verb

1. to adorn or decorate with feathers or plumes

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

3. to pride or congratulate (oneself)

plume Scientific  

/ plo̅o̅m /

1. A feather, especially a large one.

2. A body of magma that rises from the Earth's mantle into the crust.

3. ◆ If a plume rises to the Earth's surface, it erupts as lava.

4. ◆ If it remains below the Earth's surface, it eventually solidifies into a body of rock known as a pluton.

5. 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.

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Other Word Forms

• plumeless adjective
• plumelike adjective
• replume verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of plume

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

Example Sentences

Far beneath the surface of the Greenland ice sheet, scientists have identified enormous swirling structures that resemble rising plumes.

From Science Daily

All sent plumes of grey smoke into the air around Nabatieh, clinging over apartment buildings and businesses, as chaotic search and rescue efforts got under way.

From BBC

The combination of cloud and smoke plumes from the ongoing fires mean that we are unable to assess the extent of the damage at either oil facility hit over the weekend yet.

From BBC

The impact sent a roughly 100-foot plume of water into the air as it broke the ship’s hull.

From The Wall Street Journal

It was painful to stand on the balcony, where I grow my tomatoes and chilies, and watch plumes of smoke rise on the horizon as puffs of interceptions appeared in the blue sky.

From The Wall Street Journal