preen

[ preen ]

/ prin /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR preen ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

(of animals, especially birds) to trim or dress (feathers, fur, etc.) with the beak or tongue: The peacock preened itself on the lawn.

to dress (oneself) carefully or smartly; primp: The king preened himself in his elaborate ceremonial robes.

to pride (oneself) on an achievement, personal quality, etc.: He preened himself on having been graduated with honors.

verb (used without object)

to make oneself appear striking or smart in dress or appearance: No amount of careful preening will compensate for poor posture.

to be exultant or proud.

Origin of preen

1480–90; late Middle English prene, variant of Middle English prunen, proynen (see prune³), perhaps by association with prenen, to stab, pierce (v. use, now dial., of prenepreen²), from the pricking action of a bird's beak in preening

OTHER WORDS FROM preen

preener, nounun·preened, adjective

Words nearby preen

preemption, preemptive, preemptively, preemptive right, preemptive strike, preen, preengage, preengineered, preen gland, preequalization, preestablish

Definition for preen (2 of 2)

preen²

[ preen ]

/ prin /

noun Chiefly British Dialect.

a pin or brooch.

Origin of preen

before 1000; Middle English prene,Old English prēon a pin; cognate with Old Norse prjōnn pin; akin to Dutch priem,German Pfreim awl

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for preen

Hot pink takes the Preen by Thornton Bregazzi runway in London.
LFW Photo of the Day: Sept. 15||September 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
This is not the first time Palin has attempted to sun and preen herself in the heat of a Thatcherite sun.
Palin’s Delusions of Grandeur|Alex Massie|June 8, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Rather than preen about whether he could win, Christie considered whether he should win.
2012's Presidential Whiners|Howard Kurtz|May 29, 2011|DAILY BEAST
An endless stream of 2012 presidential wannabes will preen for adoring fans and plentiful cameras.
The Right Invades Washington|Samuel P. Jacobs, Shushannah Walshe|February 8, 2011|DAILY BEAST

A few moments to preen and promenade for the cameras following months of planning and fitting, hours of hair and makeup.
America's First Modern Celebrity|Laura Skandera Trombley|March 20, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Preen your feathers, and stretch the Birds' nest a trifle, if you please, and let Uncle Jack in for the holidays.
The Bird's Christmas Carol|Kate Douglas Wiggin
Mr. and Mrs. Preen and Jane were seated at the breakfast-table one fine morning in the earliest days of spring.
Johnny Ludlow, Sixth Series|Mrs. Henry Wood
Mr. Preen put the note into his pocket-book, and rose to leave.
Johnny Ludlow, Sixth Series|Mrs. Henry Wood
And Mr. Preen only answered by looking at her and shutting down the window.
Johnny Ludlow, Sixth Series|Mrs. Henry Wood
Mr. Preen was driving quietly up College Street, when Oliver spoke.
Johnny Ludlow, Sixth Series|Mrs. Henry Wood

British Dictionary definitions for preen (1 of 2)

preen¹

/ (priːn) /

verb

(of birds) to maintain (feathers) in a healthy condition by arrangement, cleaning, and other contact with the bill

to dress or array (oneself) carefully; primp

(usually foll by on) to pride or congratulate (oneself)

Derived forms of preen

preener, noun

Word Origin for preen

C14 preinen, probably from prunen to prune ³, influenced by prenen to prick, pin (see preen ²); suggestive of the pricking movement of the bird's beak

British Dictionary definitions for preen (2 of 2)

preen²

/ (priːn) /

noun

Scot a pin, esp a decorative one

Word Origin for preen

Old English prēon a pin; related to Middle High German pfrieme awl, Dutch priem bodkin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

单词	preen
释义	preen ¹ [ preen ] / prin / SEE SYNONYMS FOR preen ON THESAURUS.COM verb (used with object) (of animals, especially birds) to trim or dress (feathers, fur, etc.) with the beak or tongue: The peacock preened itself on the lawn. to dress (oneself) carefully or smartly; primp: The king preened himself in his elaborate ceremonial robes. to pride (oneself) on an achievement, personal quality, etc.: He preened himself on having been graduated with honors. verb (used without object) to make oneself appear striking or smart in dress or appearance: No amount of careful preening will compensate for poor posture. to be exultant or proud. Origin of preen ¹ 1480–90; late Middle English prene, variant of Middle English prunen, proynen (see prune³), perhaps by association with prenen, to stab, pierce (v. use, now dial., of prenepreen²), from the pricking action of a bird's beak in preening OTHER WORDS FROM preen preener, nounun·preened, adjective Words nearby preen preemption, preemptive, preemptively, preemptive right, preemptive strike, preen, preengage, preengineered, preen gland, preequalization, preestablish Definition for preen (2 of 2) preen² [ preen ] / prin / noun Chiefly British Dialect. a pin or brooch. Origin of preen ² before 1000; Middle English prene,Old English prēon a pin; cognate with Old Norse prjōnn pin; akin to Dutch priem,German Pfreim awl Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020 Example sentences from the Web for preen Hot pink takes the Preen by Thornton Bregazzi runway in London. LFW Photo of the Day: Sept. 15\|\|September 15, 2013\|DAILY BEAST This is not the first time Palin has attempted to sun and preen herself in the heat of a Thatcherite sun. Palin’s Delusions of Grandeur\|Alex Massie\|June 8, 2011\|DAILY BEAST Rather than preen about whether he could win, Christie considered whether he should win. 2012's Presidential Whiners\|Howard Kurtz\|May 29, 2011\|DAILY BEAST An endless stream of 2012 presidential wannabes will preen for adoring fans and plentiful cameras. The Right Invades Washington\|Samuel P. Jacobs, Shushannah Walshe\|February 8, 2011\|DAILY BEAST A few moments to preen and promenade for the cameras following months of planning and fitting, hours of hair and makeup. America's First Modern Celebrity\|Laura Skandera Trombley\|March 20, 2010\|DAILY BEAST Preen your feathers, and stretch the Birds' nest a trifle, if you please, and let Uncle Jack in for the holidays. The Bird's Christmas Carol\|Kate Douglas Wiggin Mr. and Mrs. Preen and Jane were seated at the breakfast-table one fine morning in the earliest days of spring. Johnny Ludlow, Sixth Series\|Mrs. Henry Wood Mr. Preen put the note into his pocket-book, and rose to leave. Johnny Ludlow, Sixth Series\|Mrs. Henry Wood And Mr. Preen only answered by looking at her and shutting down the window. Johnny Ludlow, Sixth Series\|Mrs. Henry Wood Mr. Preen was driving quietly up College Street, when Oliver spoke. Johnny Ludlow, Sixth Series\|Mrs. Henry Wood British Dictionary definitions for preen (1 of 2) preen¹ / (priːn) / verb (of birds) to maintain (feathers) in a healthy condition by arrangement, cleaning, and other contact with the bill to dress or array (oneself) carefully; primp (usually foll by on) to pride or congratulate (oneself) Derived forms of preen preener, noun Word Origin for preen C14 preinen, probably from prunen to prune ³, influenced by prenen to prick, pin (see preen ²); suggestive of the pricking movement of the bird's beak British Dictionary definitions for preen (2 of 2) preen² / (priːn) / noun Scot a pin, esp a decorative one Word Origin for preen Old English prēon a pin; related to Middle High German pfrieme awl, Dutch priem bodkin Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Words related to preen groom, tidy, beautify, primp, clean, prettify, prink, doll up, pretty, spruce up
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preen

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of preen

OTHER WORDS FROM preen

Words nearby preen

Definition for preen (2 of 2)

noun Chiefly British Dialect.

Origin of preen

Example sentences from the Web for preen

British Dictionary definitions for preen (1 of 2)

verb

Derived forms of preen

Word Origin for preen

British Dictionary definitions for preen (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for preen

Words related to preen