A plumeof smoke, dust, fire, or water is a large quantity of it that rises into the air in a column.
The rising plume of black smoke could be seen all over Kabul. [+ of]
...the volcano's towering ash plume.
2. countable noun
A plume is a large, soft bird's feather.
...broad straw hats decorated with ostrich plumes.
Synonyms: feather, crest, quill, pinion More Synonyms of plume
3. countable noun
A plume is a bunch of long, thin pieces of material which is used to decorate something such as a soldier's helmet.
plume in British English
(pluːm)
noun
1.
a feather, esp one that is large or ornamental
2.
a feather or cluster of feathers worn esp formerly as a badge or ornament in a headband, hat, etc
3. biology
any feathery part, such as the structure on certain fruits and seeds that aids dispersal by wind
4.
something that resembles a plume
a plume of smoke
5.
a token or decoration of honour; prize
6. geology
a rising column of hot, low viscosity material within the earth's mantle, which is believed to be responsible for linear oceanic island chains and flood basalts
Also called: mantle plume
verb(transitive)
7.
to adorn or decorate with feathers or plumes
8.
(of a bird) to clean or preen (itself or its feathers)
9. (foll byon or upon)
to pride or congratulate (oneself)
Derived forms
plumeless (ˈplumeless)
adjective
plumelike (ˈplumeˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
C14: from Old French, from Latin plūma downy feather
plume in American English
(plum)
noun
1.
a.
a feather, esp. a large, fluffy, or showy one
b.
a cluster of such feathers
2.
an ornament made of a large feather or feathers, or of a feathery tuft of hair, esp. when worn on a hat, helmet, etc. as a mark of distinction
3.
any token of worth or achievement; prize
4.
plumage or down
5.
something like a plume in shape or lightness
a plume of smoke
6. Biology
a featherlike formation or part
7. Geology
a plume-shaped mass of molten rock that rises through the crust from the mantle of the earth and causes volcanic activity
verb transitiveWord forms: plumed or ˈpluming
8.
to provide, cover, or adorn with plumes
9.
a.
to smooth the feathers of (itself)
b.
to preen (its feathers)
said of a bird
10.
to pride (oneself)
Word origin
OFr < L pluma, downy part of a feather, small soft feather < IE base *pleus-, to pluck out, fluff of wool, hair > fleece
Examples of 'plume' in a sentence
plume
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
It disappeared in a plume of dust.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If there is suddenly a large plume of jellyfish, they will have an issue of clogging the system.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The feathery plumes will soften any environment.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
She ran outside to see a billowing plume of smoke.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Media pictures of dense ash plumes are from right over the volcano.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
For the crews there was a moment of hope when a plume of darker smoke jetted skywards through the covering pall.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The good weather is largely down to a plume of warm air from the Continent.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The cause is a plume of Mediterranean air making its way through the country.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We can see a plume of smoke rising from the scrub beyond the airport's perimeter wire.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
You can't see very well because of plumes of smoke.
The Sun (2010)
But as the air cleared, we could see the plume of smoke rising half a mile away.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Trying to pinpoint the ash plume beyond 18 hours is extremely difficult because the behaviour of the volcano is uncertain.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
A huge plume of smoke descended on to the pitch sparking the intervention of stewards as well as police.
The Sun (2008)
They come from a high-pressure world, brought upwards by what has been called a mantle plume.
Richard Fortey THE EARTH: An Intimate History (2004)
It is caused by a plume of air sweeping over Europe from Spain.
The Sun (2015)
He said: 'A huge plume of smoke was billowing above the rails.
The Sun (2013)
Winds drive the vast plumes of smoke northwards towards the base of the Malaysian peninsula where Singapore sits.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
I crawled out of bed and onto the balcony in time to see a plume of dust rising from the street in front of the hotel.
Aidan Hartley THE ZANZIBAR CHEST: A Memoir of Love and War (2003)
This has feathery plumes of purple flowers about 3ft high, and works well when used in large drifts.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This launched a massive plume of warm air high into the atmosphere that led to bitterly cold Arctic air being shunted down through Europe.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
plume
British English: plume NOUN
A plume of smoke, dust, fire, or water is a large quantity of it that rises into the air in a column.
The rising plume of black smoke could be seen all over the city.
American English: plume
Brazilian Portuguese: pluma
Chinese: 一缕 > 烟雾、尘土等
European Spanish: columna
French: panache
German: Fahne
Italian: pennacchio
Japanese: もくもく立ち上る煙
Korean: > 기둥연기 등의
European Portuguese: pluma
Latin American Spanish: columna
Translate your text for free
All related terms of 'plume'
plume moth
one of a family ( Pterophoridae ) of slender-bodied micro moths with narrow wings , each usually divided into two, three, or four " plumes ". The type is the white Pterophorus pentadactylus
mantle plume
a feather , esp one that is large or ornamental
nom de plume
An author's nom de plume is a name that he or she uses instead of their real name.
noms de plume
→ nom de plume
pen name
A writer's pen name is the name that he or she uses on books and articles instead of his or her real name.
(noun)
Definition
a group of feathers worn as a badge or ornament on a hat
straw hats decorated with ostrich plumes
Synonyms
feather
a purple hat with a green feather
crest
Both birds had a dark blue crest.
quill
pinion
aigrette
phrasal verb
See plume yourself on something
Additional synonyms
in the sense of crest
Definition
a tuft or growth of feathers or skin on the top of a bird's or animal's head