noun
C2
Proficient
plumage
PLOO-mihj
Plumage (noun) means All of the feathers covering a bird's body. Example: “The peacock's plumage shimmered in the sunlight.”
noun
1
All of the feathers covering a bird's body.
"Somewhat like a heron she was, but stouter, and shorter of leg, and her beak shorter and thicker than the heron’s; and so long and delicate was her pale gray plumage that hard it was to say whether it were hair or feathers."
— Eric Rücker Eddison, The Worm Ouroboros: A Romance (1922)
"The peacock's plumage shimmered in the sunlight."
"Male birds often have brighter plumage than females."
How to use plumage
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA bird's feathers as a whole, especially their colour and pattern.
Common pairings
bright plumage
breeding plumage
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like plumage.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- plumages
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The peacock's _____ shimmered in the sunlight.
Etymology
From French "plumage", built from "plume" (feather) plus the suffix "-age", denoting a collection.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for plumage
See all rhymes for plumage →Frequently asked questions
What does “plumage” mean?
The word “plumage” means all of the feathers covering a bird's body. In plain terms, a bird's feathers as a whole, especially their colour and pattern.
How do you pronounce “plumage”?
“Plumage” is pronounced PLOO-mihj (/ˈplumɪd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “plumage” in a sentence?
Here is “plumage” used in a sentence: “The peacock's plumage shimmered in the sunlight.”
What part of speech is “plumage”?
“Plumage” is a noun.
Where does the word “plumage” come from?
The word “plumage” comes from French. From French "plumage", built from "plume" (feather) plus the suffix "-age", denoting a collection.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include plumage:
