FEATHER
Dictionary entry overview: What does feather mean?
• FEATHER (noun)
The noun FEATHER has 2 senses:
1. the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
2. turning an oar parallel to the water between pulls
Familiarity information: FEATHER used as a noun is rare.
• FEATHER (verb)
The verb FEATHER has 5 senses:
1. join tongue and groove, in carpentry
2. cover or fit with feathers
3. turn the paddle; in canoeing
4. turn the oar, while rowing
5. grow feathers
Familiarity information: FEATHER used as a verb is common.
Dictionary entry details
• FEATHER (noun)
Meaning:
The light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
Classified under:
Nouns denoting animals
Synonyms:
feather; plumage; plume
Hypernyms ("feather" is a kind of...):
body covering (any covering for the body or a body part)
animal material (material derived from animals)
Meronyms (parts of "feather"):
vane; web (the flattened weblike part of a feather consisting of a series of barbs on either side of the shaft)
calamus; quill; shaft (the hollow spine of a feather)
Meronyms (substance of "feather"):
melanin (insoluble pigments that account for the color of e.g. skin and scales and feathers)
ceratin; keratin (a fibrous scleroprotein that occurs in the outer layer of the skin and in horny tissues such as hair feathers nails and hooves)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "feather"):
flight feather; pinion; quill; quill feather (any of the larger wing or tail feathers of a bird)
hackle (long slender feather on the necks of e.g. turkeys and pheasants)
marabou (the downy feathers of marabou storks are used for trimming garments)
alula; bastard wing; spurious wing (tuft of small stiff feathers on the first digit of a bird's wing)
contour feather (feathers covering the body of an adult bird and determining its shape)
aftershaft (a supplementary feather (usually small) on the underside of the base of the shaft of some feathers in some birds)
down; down feather (soft fine feathers)
scapular (a feather covering the shoulder of a bird)
Holonyms ("feather" is a part of...):
bird (warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings)
Meaning:
Turning an oar parallel to the water between pulls
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
feathering; feather
Hypernyms ("feather" is a kind of...):
rotary motion; rotation (the act of rotating as if on an axis)
Holonyms ("feather" is a part of...):
row; rowing (the act of rowing as a sport)
• FEATHER (verb)
Meaning:
Join tongue and groove, in carpentry
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "feather" is one way to...):
conjoin; join (make contact or come together)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Cover or fit with feathers
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "feather" is one way to...):
cover (provide with a covering or cause to be covered)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Turn the paddle; in canoeing
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Synonyms:
feather; square
Hypernyms (to "feather" is one way to...):
paddle (propel with a paddle)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Meaning:
Turn the oar, while rowing
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Synonyms:
feather; square
Hypernyms (to "feather" is one way to...):
row (propel with oars)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Meaning:
Grow feathers
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Synonyms:
fledge; feather
Context example:
The young sparrows are fledging already
Hypernyms (to "feather" is one way to...):
acquire; develop; get; grow; produce (come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes))
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
