feather

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   One of the light, soft growths that cover a bird's body and help it fly or stay warm.

   Grammar: Count it: a feather, two feathers.

   Patterns

   • a feather from something

   She found a white feather on the path.

   The duck shook the water from its feathers.

   Pillows used to be stuffed with goose feathers.

2. 2verbtransitivetechnical

   To cover, line or decorate something with feathers, or to turn an oar or propeller so it cuts the air or water smoothly.

   Grammar: Takes an object: feather the oar.

   Patterns

   • feather something

   The rower feathered the oar to reduce drag.

   The pilot feathered the propeller after the engine failed.

   She feathered the hat with bright plumes.

Word forms

Common combinations

a feather in your cap

Winning the award was a real feather in her cap.

light as a feather

The baby was light as a feather in his arms.

ruffle feathers

His blunt email ruffled a few feathers.

feather duster

She dusted the shelves with a feather duster.

birds of a feather

They are birds of a feather and always sit together.

feather bed

They slept on a feather bed.

Synonyms and how they differ

plume

Plume is a long, showy feather, often used for decoration, while feather is the general word.

quill

Quill is the hard central shaft of a feather, historically used as a pen.

down

Down is the soft fluffy layer under a bird's outer feathers, finer than an ordinary feather.

plumage

Plumage means all of a bird's feathers together, not a single one.

Word family

feathery adjective

light, soft or like a feather

feathered adjective

covered with feathers

featherweight noun

a very light boxer or object

featherbrain noun

a silly or forgetful person, informal

Commonly confused: feather or father? feather or fever?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “feather”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words