plume
gb/plˈum/ us/plˈum/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
a large decorative feather
a big feather used for decoration
Usage pattern:
[a] plume; plumes on [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse plume (/pluːm/) with plum (/plʌm/), the fruit.
Synonyms
feather (More general; plume often suggests large or decorative.)
|
aigrette (A decorative feather plume, especially on a hat (more specific and less common).)
Collocations
ostrich plume
|a plume of feathers
|a white plume
|a scarlet plume
|plumes on a helmet
|a plumed hat
|a plumed headdress
|wear a plume
|decorated with plumes
|a plume in your cap
Themes
nature
|clothing_fashion
|arts_culture
Examples
- Her hat was trimmed with a bright red plume.
- The guards wore helmets with tall white plumes.
- The dancer’s costume included a fan of black plumes.
Learner examples
- The hat has a large plume.
- He wore a plume on his helmet.
Noun
B2
entity
2
a column of smoke or steam
a long cloud of smoke or steam
Usage pattern:
a plume of [smoke/steam/dust/ash] (from [place])
Common mistake:
Learners may use cloud when a narrow, rising shape is meant; plume often implies a streaming or rising column.
Synonyms
column (Emphasizes a tall vertical shape; less natural for drifting smoke.)
|
trail (Emphasizes something left behind moving objects (e.g., planes), not necessarily rising.)
|
cloud (More general; plume suggests a narrower, streaming shape.)
Collocations
a plume of smoke
|a plume of steam
|a plume of ash
|a dust plume
|a volcanic plume
|a smoke plume
|a toxic plume
|a plume rises
|a plume drifted
|a plume from the chimney
Themes
environment
|weather
|science
Examples
- A dark plume of smoke rose from the warehouse.
- The rocket left a bright plume of flame and exhaust.
- A plume of ash drifted over the town after the eruption.
Learner examples
- I saw a plume of smoke.
- Steam rose in a white plume.
Noun
C1
entity
3
a feather-like tuft or spray
a soft, feather-like shape
Usage pattern:
a plume of [hair/spray/water]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse plume for any spray of liquid; it usually suggests a light, feathery shape.
Synonyms
tuft (Often smaller and more compact than a plume.)
|
spray (Focuses on droplets; plume focuses on the shape.)
|
crest (Often refers to hair or a ridge-like top; plume suggests softness/featheriness.)
Collocations
a plume of hair
|a plume of water
|a plume of spray
|a feathery plume
|a plume-like tuft
|grass plumes
|plumes of sea spray
Themes
daily_life
|nature
Examples
- He had a plume of hair falling over his forehead.
- A plume of water shot up from the fountain.
- The ornamental grass produces pale plumes in late summer.
Learner examples
- She has a plume of hair.
- A plume of water rose up.
Verb
C1
process
4
to rise or stream like smoke
to rise like a long cloud of smoke
Usage pattern:
[smoke/steam/dust] plumes (from/out of) [place]; [something] plumes into/through [place]
Common mistake:
Learners may use plume as a synonym of smoke; plume is about the shape and movement, not the substance itself.
Synonyms
billow (Often suggests thicker, rolling movement rather than a narrow stream.)
|
stream (More general and less visual; plume highlights a feathered, trailing shape.)
|
rise (General upward movement without the specific shape implied by plume.)
Antonyms
settle (Move downward and become still rather than rising/spreading.)
Collocations
smoke plumed
|steam plumed
|ash plumed
|dust plumed
|plume from the vents
|plume out of the chimney
|plume into the sky
|plume across the valley
Themes
environment
|weather
|science
Examples
- Steam plumed from the street vents in the cold air.
- Smoke plumed out of the engine compartment.
- Dust plumed behind the truck as it sped along the dirt road.
Learner examples
- Smoke plumed into the air.
- Steam plumed from the kettle.
Verb
formal
C1
state
5
to feel proud of yourself
to feel proud about something you did
Usage pattern:
[someone] plumes [themself] on [something]
Common mistake:
This verb is usually reflexive (plume yourself/himself/themselves) and commonly followed by on + noun/gerund.
Synonyms
pride yourself on (More common and more neutral; plume yourself on can sound more literary or critical.)
|
congratulate yourself on (Often implies self-satisfaction; can be more explicit than plume.)
Antonyms
regret (Feel sorry about something rather than proud of it.)
|
be ashamed of (Feel embarrassment instead of pride.)
Collocations
plume yourself on
|plume himself on
|plume herself on
|plume themselves on
|plume yourself on your success
|plume himself on being honest
|plume herself on her good taste
Themes
emotions
|social_relations
Examples
- He plumed himself on his attention to detail.
- She plumed herself on never being late.
- They plumed themselves on their reputation for fairness.
Learner examples
- He plumed himself on his work.
- She plumed herself on being careful.
Grammar
Dictionary form
plume
IPA
GB/plˈum/
US/plˈum/
Syllables & stress
plume (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (plume)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: plume
- Plural: plumes
Verb
- Base: plume
- 3rd Person Singular: plumes
- Present Participle: pluming
- Past: plumed
Word family
Forms
plumes
noun
pluming
verb
plumed
verb
Core family
plumage
noun C1
Expressions
in full plume
1/ˈɪn fˈʊl plˈum/
fixed phrase
literary
fully adorned or displayed
wearing/showing very decorative feathers
Examples
- The peacock was in full plume, turning slowly in the sunlight.
- The parade featured riders in full plume and bright uniforms.
- She arrived in full plume, dressed up for the opening night.
plume up
1/plˈum ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
fluff out feathers
(a bird) makes its feathers stand out
Examples
- The sparrow plumed up against the cold.
- The rooster plumed up and strutted around the yard.
- At the feeder, the small birds would plume up when a cat appeared.