plumage
gb/plˈumɪd͡ʒ/ us/plˈumɪd͡ʒ/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
C1
entity
1
a bird’s feathers
All the feathers on a bird.
Usage pattern:
[bird]'s plumage
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *plumage* for a single feather; it usually means the bird’s feathers as a group.
Synonyms
feathers (More general and much more common; can be singular or plural.)
|
feathering (Often used for the arrangement or condition of feathers.)
Antonyms
bare skin (Having no feathers covering the body.)
Collocations
bright plumage
|colorful plumage
|iridescent plumage
|dense plumage
|soft plumage
|adult plumage
|juvenile plumage
|breeding plumage
|winter plumage
|a bird’s plumage
Themes
nature
|animals
|birds
Examples
- The peacock’s plumage shimmered in the sunlight.
- In winter, the bird’s plumage becomes duller and thicker.
- The guide pointed out the owl’s mottled plumage for camouflage.
Learner examples
- The bird has beautiful plumage.
- Its plumage is white and gray.
Noun
literary
C2
abstract
2
showy clothing or appearance
Very fancy clothes or a showy appearance.
Usage pattern:
in [someone]'s plumage
Common mistake:
This sense is figurative and relatively uncommon; in everyday speech people usually say *outfit*, *clothes*, or *look*.
Synonyms
finery (Fancy clothes for special occasions.)
|
regalia (Very formal or ceremonial clothing; often official.)
|
showiness (Emphasizes attracting attention rather than clothing specifically.)
Antonyms
plain dress (Simple, not decorative clothing.)
|
simplicity (Lack of display or ornament.)
Collocations
fine plumage
|borrowed plumage
|in full plumage
|in all one’s plumage
|parade one’s plumage
Themes
clothing
|appearance
|social_life
Examples
- He arrived in full plumage, wearing a tuxedo and polished shoes.
- The article mocked the candidate’s expensive plumage at a time of cuts.
- Behind the corporate plumage, the company was struggling.
Learner examples
- She wore her best plumage for the party.
Grammar
Dictionary form
plumage
IPA
GB/plˈumɪd͡ʒ/
US/plˈumɪd͡ʒ/
Syllables & stress
plumage (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (plumage)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: plumage
- Plural: plumage
Word family
Expressions
breeding plumage
1/bɹˈidɪŋ plˈumɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
technical
feathers during breeding season
A bird’s feathers in the mating season.
Examples
- The terns return in breeding plumage, with black caps and sharp bills.
- By May, many shorebirds are in breeding plumage.
- In breeding plumage, the male is much easier to identify.
eclipse plumage
1/ɪklˈɪps plˈumɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
technical
temporary dull plumage in males
A male duck’s dull feathers after breeding.
Examples
- Male mallards in eclipse plumage can look surprisingly like females.
- During eclipse plumage, the drake’s bright colors fade for a few weeks.
- The guide explained how to tell eclipse plumage from juvenile plumage.
in full plumage
1/ˈɪn fˈʊl plˈumɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
literary
wearing finest or showiest clothes
Wearing very fancy clothes.
Examples
- She turned up in full plumage for the awards dinner.
- The band came onstage in full plumage, glittering jackets and all.
- Investors were greeted by executives in full plumage for the launch.
juvenile plumage
1/d͡ʒˈuvənˌaɪl plˈumɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
technical
young bird’s first feathers
The feathers of a young bird.
Examples
- The juvenile plumage is streakier than the adult’s.
- Birders often confuse juveniles because the juvenile plumage looks unfamiliar.
- By late summer, the chicks begin to replace juvenile plumage with adult feathers.
winter plumage
1/wˈɪntɚ plˈumɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
technical
feathers in the nonbreeding season
A bird’s feathers in winter.
Examples
- In winter plumage, the gull’s head loses its dark hood.
- The photos show the same bird in winter plumage and in summer.
- Some species are harder to identify in winter plumage.