feather
/ˈfeðə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · [fˈɛðɚ] /ˈfeðər/ (ame, ipa) · [fˈɛðɚ] /ˈfe-t͟hər/ (ame, mw) · /ˈfeð.ər/ (bre, ipa) · [fˈɛðɚ] /ˈfeð.ɚ/ (ame, ipa)
feather — 名詞
- feathersingular
- feathersplural
1. A soft, lightweight structure growing from a bird's skin, with a narrow central
羽毛
鳥類身體表面的輕柔構造
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.
一根小小的藍色羽毛從鸚鵡翅膀掉落在廚房的桌上。
countable noun, object that falls from a bird
The peacock spread its tail feathers into a brilliant fan of green and gold.
孔雀將尾羽展開成一片燦爛的金綠色扇面。
plural: tail feathers, display action
Valentina picked up a single white feather that had blown onto the garden bench.
Valentina 撿起一根被風吹到花園長椅上的白色羽毛。
Abigail found a bright blue feather on the path and tucked it in her notebook.
Abigail 在小徑上找到一根亮藍色羽毛，把它夾進筆記本裡。
- 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
同類；同種
相同類型的人或事物
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.
那兩位工程師是一丘之貉，午餐時間總在討論電路設計。
fixed phrase: birds of a feather (same kind)
Mert and Vivek are of the same feather — both wake at five to swim.
Mert 和 Vivek 是同類——兩人清晨五點起床游泳。
variant: of the same feather
Artists of a feather gather in the same coffee shops and galleries around town.
同類的藝術家聚集在城裡同樣的咖啡館和畫廊。
Caleb and his cousin are of a feather, always choosing hiking boots over video games.
Caleb 和他表弟是同類，總是選擇登山鞋而非電玩。
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 — 動詞
- 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
平槳
划槳時將槳面轉平減少阻力
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.
教練向初學者示範如何在河上划槳之間將槳面轉平。
rowing technique: feather + the oar
Ayana feathered her paddle smoothly as the canoe glided across the still morning lake.
Ayana 在獨木舟滑過清晨平靜的湖面時順暢地將槳面轉平。
canoeing context
If you forget to feather the blade, the wind will push the boat back.
如果你忘記將槳面轉平，風會把船往後推。
Eitan watched the experienced rower feather his oar with quick, graceful wrist turns.
Eitan 看著經驗豐富的划槳手以快速優雅的手腕動作將槳面轉平。
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
飾羽
用羽毛裝飾或覆蓋
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.
工匠仔細地用亮眼的雁羽為獵箭裝上箭羽。
feather + arrow with feathers
At the carnival, dancers wore feathered headdresses that swayed to the music.
嘉年華上，舞者戴著飾羽的頭飾，隨著音樂擺動。
passive adjective: feathered (covered with feathers)
The designer feathered the queen's gown with white feathers for the stage show.
設計師為舞台劇用白色羽毛裝飾了女王的長袍。
At the workshop, they feathered bamboo sticks with dyed rooster feathers for the carnival float.
在工作坊中，他們用染色公雞羽毛裝飾竹竿，準備嘉年華花車。
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
長羽
（鳥類）長出羽毛
(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.
小麻雀在屋簷下的巢中十天後開始長出羽毛。
bird development: young bird + feather (verb)
Astrid watched the ducklings feather out as they grew bigger on the pond.
Astrid 觀察到小鴨在池塘邊長大時逐漸長出羽毛。
phrasal: feather out (grow feathers fully)
A young eagle takes nearly three months to fully feather before leaving the nest.
幼鷹需要將近三個月才能完全長好羽毛，離巢飛行。
The barn owl chicks feathered slowly during the cold spring, staying close together for warmth.
倉鴞的雛鳥在寒冷的春天裡慢慢長出羽毛，彼此緊靠著取暖。
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.