I. plume 1 /pluːm/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: Latin pluma '(small soft) feather' ]
1 . a cloud of smoke, dust etc which rises up into the air
plume of smoke/dust/gas/spray etc
A black plume of smoke rose above the city.
2 . a large feather or bunch of feathers, especially one that is used as a decoration on a hat
⇨ ↑ nom de plume
II. plume 2 BrE AmE verb
[intransitive] literary to rise or come out in a cloud:
No smoke plumed out of the factory’s great chimneys.