Word Study
preen
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Verb preen has 3 senses
- preen(v = verb.contact) plume - clean with one's bill; "The birds preened" is one way to arrange, set up, clean, make clean
- preen(v = verb.communication) congratulate - pride or congratulate (oneself) for an achievement; Array is one way to crow, gloat, triumph
- preen(v = verb.body) dress, plume, primp - dress or groom with elaborate care; "She likes to dress when going to the opera" is one way to attire, deck out, deck up, dress up, fancy up, fig out, fig up, get up, gussy up, overdress, prink, rig out, tog out, tog up, trick out, trick up
Sample sentences:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Sample sentence:
Somebody ----s
Sample sentences:
They preen
They preen themselves
CIDE DICTIONARY
preen, n. [AS. preón a clasp, bodkin; akin to D. priem punch, bodkin, awl, G. pfriem, Icel. prj a knitting needle, pin, Dan. preen a bodkin, punch.].
A forked tool used by clothiers in dressing cloth. [1913 Webster]
- To dress with, or as with, a preen; to trim or dress with the beak, as the feathers; -- said of birds. Derham. [1913 Webster]
- To trim up, as trees. Halliwell. [1913 Webster]
- To dress (oneself) carefully or stylishly; to primp. [PJC]
- To pride (oneself) on one's accomplishments; to congratulate (oneself). [PJC]
preen, v. i.
- To dress up neatly and smartly; to make oneself well-groomed and well-dressed. [PJC]
- To feel proud of one's achievement; to swell or gloat. [PJC]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
preen, v.tr. & refl.
1 (of a bird) tidy (the feathers or itself) with its beak.
2 (of a person) smarten or admire (oneself, one's hair, clothes, etc.).
3 (often foll. by on) congratulate or pride (oneself).
1 (of a bird) tidy (the feathers or itself) with its beak.
2 (of a person) smarten or admire (oneself, one's hair, clothes, etc.).
3 (often foll. by on) congratulate or pride (oneself).
Idiom
preen gland a gland situated at the base of a bird's tail and producing oil used in preening.
Derivative
preener n.
Etymology
ME, app. var. of earlier prune (perh. rel. to PRUNE(2)): assoc. with Sc. & dial. preen pierce, pin
THESAURUS
preen
adorn, array, beautify, bedeck, bedizen, blazon, brush up, clean, color, dandify, deck, deck out, decorate, dizen, doll up, dress, dress up, embellish, emblazon, embroider, enrich, fettle, fig out, fix up, furbish, garnish, grace, groom, gussy up, manicure, ornament, paint, pique, plume, prank, prank up, prettify, primp, primp up, prink, prink up, redecorate, redo, refurbish, set off, set out, smarten, smarten up, spruce up, titivate, trick out, trick up, trim
For further exploring for "preen" in Webster Dictionary Online
