v. 25B6; verb
the robin preened its feathers : CLEAN, tidy, groom, smooth, arrange; archaic plume.
she preened before the mirror : ADMIRE ONESELF, primp oneself, prink oneself, groom oneself, spruce oneself up; informal titivate oneself, doll oneself up; Brit. informal tart oneself up; N. Amer. informal gussy oneself up.
25A0; preen oneself CONGRATULATE ONESELF, be pleased with oneself, be proud of oneself, pat oneself on the back, feel self-satisfied.