FEATHER

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does feather mean? 

• FEATHER (noun)
  The noun FEATHER has 2 senses:

1. the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds

2. turning an oar parallel to the water between pulls

  Familiarity information: FEATHER used as a noun is rare.

• FEATHER (verb)
  The verb FEATHER has 5 senses:

1. join tongue and groove, in carpentry

2. cover or fit with feathers

3. turn the paddle; in canoeing

4. turn the oar, while rowing

5. grow feathers

  Familiarity information: FEATHER used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FEATHER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

feather; plumage; plume

Hypernyms ("feather" is a kind of...):

animal material (material derived from animals)

body covering (any covering for the body or a body part)

Meronyms (parts of "feather"):

vane; web (the flattened weblike part of a feather consisting of a series of barbs on either side of the shaft)

calamus; quill; shaft (the hollow spine of a feather)

Meronyms (substance of "feather"):

ceratin; keratin (a fibrous scleroprotein that occurs in the outer layer of the skin and in horny tissues such as hair, feathers, nails, and hooves)

melanin (insoluble pigments that account for the color of e.g. skin and scales and feathers)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "feather"):

down; down feather (soft fine feathers)

aftershaft (a supplementary feather (usually small) on the underside of the base of the shaft of some feathers in some birds)

contour feather (feathers covering the body of an adult bird and determining its shape)

alula; bastard wing; spurious wing (tuft of small stiff feathers on the first digit of a bird's wing)

marabou (the downy feathers of marabou storks are used for trimming garments)

hackle (long slender feather on the necks of e.g. turkeys and pheasants)

flight feather; pinion; quill; quill feather (any of the larger wing or tail feathers of a bird)

scapular (a feather covering the shoulder of a bird)

Holonyms ("feather" is a part of...):

bird (warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings)

Derivation:

feather (grow feathers)

feather (cover or fit with feathers)

feathery (adorned with feathers or plumes)

feathery (characterized by a covering of feathers)

feathery (resembling or suggesting a feather or feathers)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Turning an oar parallel to the water between pulls

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

feather; feathering

Hypernyms ("feather" is a kind of...):

rotary motion; rotation (the act of rotating as if on an axis)

Holonyms ("feather" is a part of...):

row; rowing (the act of rowing as a sport)

Derivation:

feather (turn the oar, while rowing)

feather (turn the paddle; in canoeing)

• FEATHER (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they feather    ... he / she / it feathers   
Past simple: feathered   
Past participle: feathered   
-ing form: feathering   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Join tongue and groove, in carpentry

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "feather" is one way to...):

conjoin; join (make contact or come together)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cover or fit with feathers

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "feather" is one way to...):

cover (provide with a covering or cause to be covered)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

feather (the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Turn the paddle; in canoeing

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

feather; square

Hypernyms (to "feather" is one way to...):

paddle (propel with a paddle)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

feather (turning an oar parallel to the water between pulls)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Turn the oar, while rowing

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

feather; square

Hypernyms (to "feather" is one way to...):

row (propel with oars)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

feather; feathering (turning an oar parallel to the water between pulls)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Grow feathers

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

feather; fledge

Context example:

The young sparrows are fledging already

Hypernyms (to "feather" is one way to...):

acquire; develop; get; grow; produce (come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes))

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

feather (the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds)

 Context examples 

Modern birds have beaks with no teeth and their bodies are covered in feathers.

(Aves, NCI Thesaurus)

He made a clutch as startled as was the rise of the ptarmigan, and there remained in his hand three tail-feathers.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

The American Cocker Spaniel has very long hanging ears, a rounded head, and a profuse, feathered, medium-length coat.

(American Cocker Spaniel, NCI Thesaurus)

The feathers' structure suggests that they were not used in flight but rather for temperature regulation or display.

(Scientists find dinosaur feathers preserved in amber, Wikinews)

Feather your nest first—then in April, invite love in.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The long feathered ears are pendant and hang along its cheeks.

(English Toy Spaniel, NCI Thesaurus)

There were a few feathers about the room and on his pillow a drop of blood.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

You might have knocked me down on the flat of my back, sir, with the feather of a pen, I assure you, when Mrs. Chillip said so.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

From the bull’s side, just forward of the flank, protruded a feathered arrow-end, which accounted for his savageness.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

This particular dinosaur was feathered and about the size of a small bird.

(Dinosaur Tail Found in Myanmar, VOA News)