preen
verb (used with object)
(of animals, especially birds) to trim or dress (feathers, fur, etc.) with the beak or tongue.
were preening
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past progressiveof preen.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The wren and the gowdspink were preening themselves and shaking off the dews that fell on their feathers as they fussed to and fro about their nesting business.
From Deep Moat Grange by S. R. (Samuel Rutherford) Crockett
Then Duckie was released and fed and departed to gabble her wrongs to the other white ducks that were preening themselves amongst the deep green grass of the adjacent orchard.
From Robinetta by Allan McAulay
At another time I saw him fly over a large flock of wild ducks that were preening themselves in the grass.
From Ways of Wood Folk by Charles Copeland
They took the path to their right, which skirted the bank where the white geese and swans were preening their feathers.
From A Mummer's Tale by Charles E. Roche
White flocks of long-legged water-birds were preening their wings in the shadows, in which rock and boughs and farthest snow stood glassed.
From The Three Mulla-mulgars by Walter De la Mare
