preen

1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈprēn

preened; preening; preens

transitive verb

of a bird : to groom with the bill especially by rearranging the barbs and barbules of the feathers and by distributing oil from the uropygial gland

: to dress or smooth (oneself) up : primp

: to pride or congratulate (oneself) on an achievement

intransitive verb

: to make oneself sleek

: to behave or speak with obvious pride or self-satisfaction

preener noun

preen

2 of 3

noun

dialectal, chiefly British : pin

dialectal, chiefly British : brooch

preen

3 of 3

verb (2)

preened; preening; preens

transitive verb

chiefly Scotland

: pin

Did you know?

Preen hatched in 14th-century Middle English, and early on it displayed various spelling forms, including prenen, prayne, prene, and preyne. The word traces to Anglo-French puroindre, or proindre, linking pur-, meaning "thoroughly," with uindre, oindre, meaning "to anoint or rub." One of the first writers known to apply preen to the human act of primping was Geoffrey Chaucer in The Canterbury Tales. Centuries later (sometime during the late 19th century), the prideful meaning of preen hatched, joining another bird-related word, plume, which was being used with the meaning "to pride or congratulate (oneself)" from the first half of the 17th century.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Watching Lil Nas X pose and preen on his walk to the stage was more fun than most of the night’s music.

Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2022 Keas traditionally use their beaks to preen themselves.

David Kindy, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Sep. 2021 The goose will preen her ponytail while vocalizing with a playlist of notes and volumes.

Kevin Spear, orlandosentinel.com, 24 Nov. 2021 Albatrosses in matrimonial sync will tenderly preen each other and cuddle in their nest.

Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 23 Nov. 2021 Birds also instinctually preen themselves to remove anything on their feathers, which exposes them to ingesting toxic amounts of oil, Anderson says.

Brandon Griggs, CNN, 5 Oct. 2021 Now with the flood of billions of dollars in CARES Act and American Rescue Plan funding, the feds are providing nothing new but a PR opportunity for mayors and others to preen about housing and homelessness.

Paul Webster, National Review, 28 Sep. 2021 Using his tongue, the parrot holds the small stone in place to preen his plumage.

David Kindy, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Sep. 2021 While the pandemic drove the world indoors for safety, an evolutionary desire to preen ourselves proved tough to stifle.

New York Times, 14 July 2021 See More

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English prenen, alteration of proynen, prunen, from Anglo-French puroindre, proindre, from pur- thoroughly + uindre, oindre to anoint, rub, from Latin unguere — more at purchase entry 1, ointment

Noun

Middle English prene, from Old English prēon; akin to Middle High German pfrieme awl

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1572, in the meaning defined above

单词	preening
释义	preen 1 of 3 verb (1) ˈprēn preened; preening; preens transitive verb 1 of a bird : to groom with the bill especially by rearranging the barbs and barbules of the feathers and by distributing oil from the uropygial gland 2 : to dress or smooth (oneself) up : primp 3 : to pride or congratulate (oneself) on an achievement intransitive verb 1 : to make oneself sleek 2 : to behave or speak with obvious pride or self-satisfaction preener noun preen 2 of 3 noun 1 dialectal, chiefly British : pin 2 dialectal, chiefly British : brooch preen 3 of 3 verb (2) preened; preening; preens transitive verb chiefly Scotland : pin Did you know? Preen hatched in 14th-century Middle English, and early on it displayed various spelling forms, including prenen, prayne, prene, and preyne. The word traces to Anglo-French puroindre, or proindre, linking pur-, meaning "thoroughly," with uindre, oindre, meaning "to anoint or rub." One of the first writers known to apply preen to the human act of primping was Geoffrey Chaucer in The Canterbury Tales. Centuries later (sometime during the late 19th century), the prideful meaning of preen hatched, joining another bird-related word, plume, which was being used with the meaning "to pride or congratulate (oneself)" from the first half of the 17th century. Example Sentences Recent Examples on the Web Verb Watching Lil Nas X pose and preen on his walk to the stage was more fun than most of the night’s music. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2022 Keas traditionally use their beaks to preen themselves. David Kindy, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Sep. 2021 The goose will preen her ponytail while vocalizing with a playlist of notes and volumes. Kevin Spear, orlandosentinel.com, 24 Nov. 2021 Albatrosses in matrimonial sync will tenderly preen each other and cuddle in their nest. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 23 Nov. 2021 Birds also instinctually preen themselves to remove anything on their feathers, which exposes them to ingesting toxic amounts of oil, Anderson says. Brandon Griggs, CNN, 5 Oct. 2021 Now with the flood of billions of dollars in CARES Act and American Rescue Plan funding, the feds are providing nothing new but a PR opportunity for mayors and others to preen about housing and homelessness. Paul Webster, National Review, 28 Sep. 2021 Using his tongue, the parrot holds the small stone in place to preen his plumage. David Kindy, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Sep. 2021 While the pandemic drove the world indoors for safety, an evolutionary desire to preen ourselves proved tough to stifle. New York Times, 14 July 2021 See More Word History Etymology Verb (1) Middle English prenen, alteration of proynen, prunen, from Anglo-French puroindre, proindre, from pur- thoroughly + uindre, oindre to anoint, rub, from Latin unguere — more at purchase entry 1, ointment Noun Middle English prene, from Old English prēon; akin to Middle High German pfrieme awl First Known Use Verb (1) 14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1 Noun before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb (2) 1572, in the meaning defined above Kids Definition preen verb ˈprēn preened; preening 1 : to smooth and clean with the bill The sparrow preened its feathers. 2 : to make a person's own appearance neat and tidy He preened himself in front of the mirror. preening verb present participle of preen 1 as in gloating Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance gloating glorying exulting bragging crowing delighting strutting flaunting swelling jubilating triumphing rejoicing kvelling exuberating parading joying boasting swaggering showing off Antonyms & Near Antonyms weeping regretting grieving lamenting bewailing bemoaning 2 as in primping Synonyms & Similar Words primping prinking accessorizing dressing robing smartening (up) dolling up attiring decking costuming garbing dressing up clothing arraying bedecking appareling bedizening caparisoning suiting garmenting apparelling investing togging (out or up) rigging (out) duding (up)
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preen

verb (1)

noun

verb (2)

Did you know?

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

verb

verb