noun C2 Proficient Uncommon

plume

PLOOM

Plume (noun) means a large, often decorative feather, or a cluster of feathers. Example: “The knight's helmet had a bright red plume.”

noun

A large, often decorative feather, or a cluster of feathers.

"The knight's helmet had a bright red plume."

A rising column of smoke, dust, or similar substance.

"A plume of black smoke rose from the factory."

verb

Of a bird: to smooth and arrange its feathers.

"The swan plumed its wings before taking flight."

To feel proud of oneself, often excessively.

"He plumed himself on having predicted the result."

How to use plume

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA feather (or feather-like tuft), a rising cloud of smoke or dust, or to preen/be proud of oneself.

Common pairings

plume of smoke feather plume plume oneself on

Word forms

plumed past tense, plume plural, plumed plural, plumes singular, plume singular, plumed singular, plumest singular, plumedst singular, plumeth singular

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The knight's helmet had a bright red _____.

Etymology

From Latin "plūma" meaning feather or down, arriving in English through French.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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feather plumage column cloud preen pride oneself

Related words

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Rhymes for plume

ume fume Hume Blume volume assume exhume resume consume perfume costume presume

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Frequently asked questions

What does “plume” mean?

The word “plume” means a large, often decorative feather, or a cluster of feathers. In plain terms, a feather (or feather-like tuft), a rising cloud of smoke or dust, or to preen/be proud of oneself.

How do you pronounce “plume”?

“Plume” is pronounced PLOOM (/ˈplum/ in IPA).

How do you use “plume” in a sentence?

Here is “plume” used in a sentence: “The knight's helmet had a bright red plume.”

What part of speech is “plume”?

Depending on how it is used, “plume” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “plume” come from?

The word “plume” comes from Latin. From Latin "plūma" meaning feather or down, arriving in English through French.

Is “plume” a common word?

“Plume” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.

How many meanings does “plume” have?

“Plume” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large, often decorative feather, or a cluster of feathers.

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