I. ˈplüm noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin pluma small soft feather — more at fleece
1. : a feather or feathers of a bird: as
a. : a large conspicuous or showy feather
ostrich plumes
b. : a contour feather as distinguished from a down feather
c. : plumage 1
d. : a cluster of distinctive feathers
with a plume of stiff white feathers projecting from the nape
2.
a. : an ornament that consists of a feather, cluster of feathers, tuft of hair, or similar matter worn or displayed often as a symbol of position or rank
wore a plume of three ostrich feathers in her hair
the horsehair plume of an ancient helmet
b. : something that adorns or attracts attention like a plume : showy raiment and appurtenances : plumage 2
made fine with borrowed plumes
c. : a token of honor or prowess : a deserved prize, reward, or approval
3. : something that is felt to resemble a feather (as in shape, appearance, or lightness): as
a.
(1) : a plumose appendage of a plant (as a pappus or the coma of a seed)
(2) : plumule 1
b. : an elongated usually open and mobile column or band (as of smoke, blowing sand or snow, or of cloud)
c. : a plumate part or structure on an animal ; especially : a full bushy tail (as of a long-haired cat)
d. : a flaw in a gem (as an agate)
4. : plume moth
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English plumen, from Middle French plumer to pluck the feathers from (a bird), from Old French, from plume, n.
intransitive verb
1. obsolete , of a hawk : to strip the prey of feathers
2. obsolete : to show self-satisfaction : take pride in oneself or one's accomplishments
3. : to form a plume : assume a plumose appearance ; especially : to give off something in the form of a plume
a cigarette still pluming in the ashtray
transitive verb
1.
a. : to provide (as a bird) with feathers or plumage : feather
b. : to deck (as a helmet) with a plume
c. : to trick out (as a person) or array showily
d. : to form a plume of (as smoke) or in (as air)
chimneys pluming the wintry sky
an engine … pluming black smoke along the gray — William Sansom
2. archaic
a. : to strip (a bird) of feathers
b. : to rob or strip bare : deprive , despoil
3. : to pride, congratulate, or take credit to (oneself)
plumed himself on his accomplishment
4.
a. : to dress the feathers of (itself) — used of a bird
b. : to preen and arrange (feathers)
III. noun
: any of several columns of molten rock rising continuously from the earth's lower mantle that are theorized to be a driving force of plate movement in plate tectonics and to underlie upper-mantle hot spots