plume
Americannoun
-
a feather.
-
a large, long, or conspicuous feather.
the brilliant plume of a peacock.
-
a soft, fluffy feather.
the plume of an egret.
-
any plumose part or formation.
-
a feather, a tuft of feathers, or some substitute, worn as an ornament, as on a hat, helmet, etc.
-
a feather or featherlike token of honor or distinction, especially one worn on a helmet.
-
a vertically or longitudinally moving, rising, or expanding fluid body, as of smoke or water.
-
a visible pattern of smoke resulting from emissions from a stack, flue, or chimney.
-
Also called mantle plume. Geology. a deep-seated upwelling of magma within the earth's mantle.
verb (used with object)
-
to furnish, cover, or adorn with plumes or feathers.
-
(of a bird) to preen (itself or its feathers).
-
to feel complacent satisfaction with (oneself ); pride (oneself ) (often followed by on orupon ).
She sat before the mirror, pluming herself upon her beauty.
noun
-
a feather, esp one that is large or ornamental
-
a feather or cluster of feathers worn esp formerly as a badge or ornament in a headband, hat, etc
-
biology any feathery part, such as the structure on certain fruits and seeds that aids dispersal by wind
-
something that resembles a plume
a plume of smoke
-
a token or decoration of honour; prize
-
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
verb
-
to adorn or decorate with feathers or plumes
-
(of a bird) to clean or preen (itself or its feathers)
-
to pride or congratulate (oneself)
-
A feather, especially a large one.
-
A body of magma that rises from the Earth's mantle into the crust.
-
◆ If a plume rises to the Earth's surface, it erupts as lava.
-
◆ If it remains below the Earth's surface, it eventually solidifies into a body of rock known as a pluton.
-
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.
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Since early on Saturday, foreigners in the United Arab Emirates have been sharing videos of plumes of smoke rising above the skyscrapers and expressing their shock that the usual haven of stability was under attack.
From Barron's
Huge plumes of black smoke were seen rising from an area near the base.
From BBC
Several verified videos from Tehran show large plumes of smoke rising above the capital.
From BBC
Huge plumes of black smoke were seen rising from an area near the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in Manama, Bahrain.
From BBC
Tourists and locals were urged to seek shelter and not venture out and footage they recorded showed black plumes of smoke rising above the popular beach resort.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
