feather
/ˈfeðə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · [fˈɛðɚ] /ˈfeðər/ (ame, ipa) · [fˈɛðɚ] /ˈfe-t͟hər/ (ame, mw) · /ˈfeð.ər/ (bre, ipa) · [fˈɛðɚ] /ˈfeð.ɚ/ (ame, ipa)
feather — noun
- feathersingular
- feathersplural
1. A soft, lightweight structure growing from a bird's skin, with a narrow central
A soft, lightweight structure growing from a bird's skin, with a narrow central stem and tiny, flat strands spreading from each side.
A small blue feather fell from the parrot's wing onto the kitchen table.
countable noun, object that falls from a bird
The peacock spread its tail feathers into a brilliant fan of green and gold.
plural: tail feathers, display action
Valentina picked up a single white feather that had blown onto the garden bench.
Abigail found a bright blue feather on the path and tucked it in her notebook.
- plume
typically refers to a large, showy feather used for decoration, not the everyday body feather of a bird
文法句型
feather + of + noun
feathers (plural)
常見錯誤
2. A type or kind of person or thing, used especially when noting that people with
A type or kind of person or thing, used especially when noting that people with similar characters, interests, or backgrounds tend to associate with each other.
The two engineers were birds of a feather, always talking about circuit design during lunch.
fixed phrase: birds of a feather (same kind)
Mert and Vivek are of the same feather — both wake at five to swim.
variant: of the same feather
Artists of a feather gather in the same coffee shops and galleries around town.
Caleb and his cousin are of a feather, always choosing hiking boots over video games.
文法句型
birds of a feather (fixed phrase)
of the same feather
用法筆記
Almost always occurs in the fixed expression 'birds of a feather' or the pattern 'of the same feather'. It is rarely used as a standalone word meaning 'type' outside these phrases.
常見錯誤
feather — verb
- featherpresent simple I / you / we / they
- feathers3rd person singular
- feathering-ing form
- featheredpast simple
1. In rowing or canoeing, to rotate the oar blade so it lies flat against the water
In rowing or canoeing, to rotate the oar blade so it lies flat against the water after each stroke, cutting down wind drag as you bring it back to begin the next movement.
The coach showed the beginners how to feather the oar between strokes on the river.
rowing technique: feather + the oar
Ayana feathered her paddle smoothly as the canoe glided across the still morning lake.
canoeing context
If you forget to feather the blade, the wind will push the boat back.
Eitan watched the experienced rower feather his oar with quick, graceful wrist turns.
文法句型
feather + the oar/paddle
常見錯誤
2. To cover, decorate, or provide something with feathers, either as ornament or fo
To cover, decorate, or provide something with feathers, either as ornament or for a practical purpose like making an arrow fly straight.
The artisan carefully feathered the hunting arrows with bright goose plumage.
feather + arrow with feathers
At the carnival, dancers wore feathered headdresses that swayed to the music.
passive adjective: feathered (covered with feathers)
The designer feathered the queen's gown with white feathers for the stage show.
At the workshop, they feathered bamboo sticks with dyed rooster feathers for the carnival float.
文法句型
feather + object + with + noun
用法筆記
The past participle 'feathered' is more common as an adjective (a feathered hat, feathered arrows) than the finite verb forms. Passive constructions are frequent.
3. (Of a bird) To develop or grow feathers as part of its natural maturation, espec
(Of a bird) To develop or grow feathers as part of its natural maturation, especially from a hatchling to a fledgling.
The baby sparrows began to feather after ten days in the nest under the roof.
bird development: young bird + feather (verb)
Astrid watched the ducklings feather out as they grew bigger on the pond.
phrasal: feather out (grow feathers fully)
A young eagle takes nearly three months to fully feather before leaving the nest.
The barn owl chicks feathered slowly during the cold spring, staying close together for warmth.
文法句型
bird + feathers (verb)
用法筆記
Commonly used in the phrase 'feather out' — a phrasal variant meaning 'to develop a full set of feathers.' This sense is mostly used in nature writing and birdwatching contexts.