preen

1
[ preen ]
See synonyms for preen on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
  1. (of animals, especially birds) to trim or dress (feathers, fur, etc.) with the beak or tongue: The peacock preened itself on the lawn.

  2. to dress (oneself) carefully or smartly; primp: The king preened himself in his elaborate ceremonial robes.

  1. to pride (oneself) on an achievement, personal quality, etc.: He preened himself on having graduated with honors.

verb (used without object)
  1. to make oneself appear striking or smart in dress or appearance: No amount of careful preening will compensate for poor posture.

  2. to be exultant or proud.

Origin of preen

1
1480–90; late Middle English prene, variant of Middle English prunen, proynen (see prune3), perhaps by association with prenen, to stab, pierce (v. use, now dial., of prenepreen2), from the pricking action of a bird's beak in preening

Other words from preen

  • preen·er, noun
  • un·preened, adjective

Other definitions for preen (2 of 2)

preen2
[ preen ]

nounChiefly British Dialect.
  1. a pin or brooch.

Origin of preen

2
before 1000; Middle English prene,Old English prēon a pin; cognate with Old Norse prjōnn pin; akin to Dutch priem,German Pfreim awl

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use preen in a sentence

  • The Miss Preens had descended at a fourth-rate hotel, picked out of the guide-book.

    Johnny Ludlow, Fifth Series | Mrs. Henry Wood
  • One fine spring morning the Miss Preens packed up their bag and baggage and started for the Continent.

    Johnny Ludlow, Fifth Series | Mrs. Henry Wood

British Dictionary definitions for preen (1 of 2)

preen1

/ (priːn) /


verb
  1. (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

  1. (usually foll by on) to pride or congratulate (oneself)

Origin of preen

1
C14 preinen, probably from prunen to prune ³, influenced by prenen to prick, pin (see preen ²); suggestive of the pricking movement of the bird's beak

Derived forms of preen

  • preener, noun

British Dictionary definitions for preen (2 of 2)

preen2

/ (priːn) /


noun
  1. Scot a pin, esp a decorative one

Origin of preen

2
Old English prēon a pin; related to Middle High German pfrieme awl, Dutch priem bodkin

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