preening

American  

[pree-ning] / ˈpri nɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of trimming or dressing the feathers, fur, etc., with the beak or tongue.

   Examples of animals engaging in the same behavior at the same time include the gobbling of turkeys and the preening of birds.

2. the act of dressing oneself carefully or smartly, or making small adjustments to one’s clothing to appear trim and smart; primping.

   I remember my grandma using that perfume—the scent, and the preening in front of the mirror that went with it.

3. the act of priding oneself on an achievement, personal quality, etc., especially in an obnoxious way.

   All the posing and preening by these politicians is not going to help if the program ends up making food less affordable.

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adjective

1. (of birds or animals) trimming or dressing the feathers, fur, etc., with the beak or tongue.

   We got fabulous views of a preening pair of trumpeter swans on a large rock in the river.

2. dressing oneself carefully or smartly; primping.

   He is a preening ladies' man and social climber.

3. priding oneself on an achievement, personal quality, etc., especially in an obnoxious way.

   Once again you show yourself to be nothing but a preening pseudointellectual.

Etymology

Origin of preening

First recorded in 1590–1600; preen ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun senses; preen ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses

Example Sentences

In a moment with Colin Farrell as his preening son, Duvall is shocked and disappointed by how things are being handled.

From Los Angeles Times

She constantly touches her hair and adjusts her makeup like a swan preening in the sunshine.

From Literature

When the dragon had finally sated its hunger, it sat on Jeremy's desk, preening its scales with its beaky nose.

From Literature

But it’s tricky to maintain a balance between eliciting sympathy for the central duo and making sport of them, in all their preening garishness.

From The Wall Street Journal

Many were motionless, while others perched on rocks preening their feathers.

From Los Angeles Times