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preen

 
Dictionary: preen
(prēn) pronunciation

v., preened, preen·ing, preens.

v.tr.
    1. To smooth or clean (feathers) with the beak or bill.
    2. To trim or clean (fur) with the tongue, as cats do.
  1. To dress or groom (oneself) with elaborate care; primp.
  2. To take pride or satisfaction in (oneself); gloat.
v.intr.
  1. To dress up; primp.
  2. To swell with pride; gloat or exult.

[Middle English proinen, preinen, blend of Old French proignier, to prune. See prune2, and Old French poroindre, to anoint before (por-, before , from Latin prō-; see pro-1 + oindre, to anoint , from Latin unguere).]

preener preen'er n.

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Thesaurus: preen
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verb

    To be proud of (oneself), as for an accomplishment or achievement: congratulate, plume, pride. See respect/contempt/standing.

Word Tutor: preen
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pronunciation

IN BRIEF: To make oneself neat and tidy. Also: To groom with a beak or bill.

pronunciation I watched the heron preen its feathers as it stood in the pond.

WordNet: preen
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Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The verb has 3 meanings:

Meaning #1: clean with one's bill, of birds
  Synonym: plume

Meaning #2: pride or congratulate (oneself) for an achievement
  Synonyms: pride, congratulate

Meaning #3: dress or groom with elaborate care
  Synonyms: primp, plume, dress


Translations: Preen
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Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - pudse
v. intr. - pynte sig

Nederlands (Dutch)
de veren gladstrijken, zich optooien, trots zijn, glimmen van trots

Français (French)
v. tr. - lisser (plumes d'oiseaux)
v. intr. - se lisser les plumes (oiseau)

Deutsch (German)
v. - putzen, sich putzen

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - στρώνω, τακτοποιώ (φτερά), (μτφ.) στολίζομαι, καμαρώνω
n. - κομπαστής, καυχησιάρης, διακοσμητική βελόνη ή περόνη, διακοσμητική καρφίτσα

Italiano (Italian)
pavoneggiarsi, agghindarsi, lisciarsi le penne

Português (Portuguese)
v. - vestir-se, enfeitar-se cuidadosamente
n. - broche (m)

Русский (Russian)
прихорашиваться

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - arreglarse, atildarse
v. intr. - arreglarse, atildarse

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - putsa (om fågel), snygga till, kråma sig, yvas
n. - uppsnyggning

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
用嘴整理, 赞扬, 打扮, 打扮漂亮, 自负

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 用嘴整理, 讚揚, 打扮
v. intr. - 打扮漂亮, 自負

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - (새가 날개를) 부리로 다듬다
v. intr. - (아무가) 멋을 부리다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - くちばしで整える, 得意になる

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يسوي ريشه بمنقاره, يهندم, يعتز (الاسم) دبوس, , بروش, مهندم‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮ניקה במקור, שיפר את הופעתו‬
v. intr. - ‮החליק נוצות במקור, התגאה בעצמו‬


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Learn More
primp
uropygial gland (vertebrate zoology)
plume

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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
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