feather
A light, soft part that grows from a bird's skin and covers its body.
One of the light, flat structures growing from a bird's skin, forming its outer covering and aiding in flight or insulation.
To turn the blades of a plane's propeller so that they face the wind and slow the plane less when the engine stops.
To rotate the blades of an aircraft propeller so that they are parallel to the airflow, minimizing drag, usually after engine failure.
To make the edge of something soft and smooth so it mixes into another area without a hard line.
To make the edge of something blend gradually into another surface or color so that no sharp boundary is visible.
- Base: feather
- Plural: feathers
- Base: feather
- 3rd Person Singular: feathers
- Present Participle: feathering
- Past: feathered
birds of a feather (flock together)
1Similar people stay together
People who are alike often spend time together.
- Those two are always together—birds of a feather!
- Birds of a feather flock together, as they say.
feather one's nest
1Gain personal profit dishonestly
To get money or benefit for yourself, often in a dishonest way, while working or having power.
- The corrupt official was accused of feathering his own nest.
- He spent years feathering his nest at the company's expense.
light as a feather
1Extremely light in weight
Very, very light; almost no weight.
- This scarf is light as a feather.
- The baby bird felt light as a feather in her hands.
ruffle someone's feathers
1Annoy or upset someone slightly
To do something that makes someone feel annoyed or upset.
- His comments really ruffled her feathers.
- Try not to ruffle anyone's feathers during the meeting.
white feather
1Symbol of cowardice (UK historical)
A white feather given as a sign that someone is a coward, especially in British history during wartime.
- In World War I, some women gave white feathers to young men not in uniform.
- Receiving a white feather was considered an insult.