plume

1 of 2

noun

ˈplüm 

1

: a feather of a bird: such as

a

: a large conspicuous or showy feather

b

: contour feather

c

: plumage

d

: a cluster of distinctive feathers

2

a

: material (such as a feather, cluster of feathers, or a tuft of hair) worn as an ornament

b

: a token of honor or prowess : prize

3

: something resembling a feather (as in shape, appearance, or lightness): such as

a

: a plumose appendage of a plant

b

: an elongated and usually open and mobile column or band (as of smoke, exhaust gases, or blowing snow)

c

: an animal structure having a main shaft bearing many hairs or filamentous parts

especially : a full bushy tail

d

: any of several columns of molten rock rising from the earth's lower mantle that are theorized to drive tectonic plate movement and to underlie hot spots

Illustration of plume

• P plume 2a

plume

2 of 2

verb

plumed; pluming

transitive verb

1

a

: to provide or deck with feathers

b

: to array showily

2

: to indulge (oneself) in pride with an obvious or vain display of self-satisfaction

3

of a bird

a

: to preen and arrange the feathers of (itself)

b

: to preen and arrange (feathers)

Synonyms

Noun

• accolade
• award
• blue ribbon
• decoration
• distinction
• honor
• kudo
• premium
• prize

Verb

• flatter
• pique
• pride

Examples of plume in a Sentence

Noun

a hat with bright ostrich plumes

the Nobel Prize for Literature is the plume that all authors covet

Verb

that jerk plumes himself on his supposed athletic skills

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Yet even in areas that aren’t burning, plumes of smoke remain a serious and ongoing public health threat—especially as the region braces for dangerous winds that could fuel the spread of ash and smoke. —Angela Haupt, TIME, 14 Jan. 2025

On the afternoon of January 11, while both the Palisades and Eaton fires remained active, only smoke plumes from the Palisades fire were clear in the image. —John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025

Verb

Videos from the scene of the crash show dark gray smoke pluming out of the building the plane reportedly crashed into, and firefighters work to put out flames around the crash sight. —Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024

The smoke plumes drift towards a large Bob Dylan poster spread across the ceiling. —Sophie Williams, Billboard, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin pluma small soft feather — more at fleece

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing plume

• nom de plume

Kids Definition

plume

1 of 2 noun

ˈplüm 

1

: a feather of a bird

especially : one that is large and showy

2

a

: a feather or tuft of feathers worn as an ornament (as on a hat)

b

: a deserved prize or reward

3

: something that resembles a feather (as in shape or lightness)

a plume of smoke

plumy

ˈplü-mē

adjective

plume

2 of 2 verb

plumed; pluming

1

: to provide or adorn with feathers

2

: to act with too much pride in oneself

plumed himself on his swimming skill

3

: to arrange the feathers of : preen

a bird pluming itself