Feather
noun
A soft, light part that covers a bird's body and helps it to fly.
The bird lost a feather when it flew away.
Often appears as...
- bird's feather
- feather pillow
verb
To cover or line with feathers.
She feathered the nest with soft material for the eggs.
Often appears as...
- feather a nest
- feather a bed
verb
To change the angle of (oar blades) while rowing.
He feathered the oars for easier rowing.
Often appears as...
- feather the oars
- feathering technique in rowing
Usage tips
Technical
phrase
To 'feather one's nest' means to use your position or job improperly to make a lot of money or gain other benefits.
He was accused of feathering his nest with public funds.
Often appears as...
- feather one's nest with
- accused of feathering their nest
Usage tips
Disapproving
Idiomatic
phrase
'Birds of a feather flock together' is a phrase that means people who are similar usually spend time with each other.
They're always together, but then again, birds of a feather flock together.
Often appears as...
- birds of a feather
- birds of a feather together
Usage tips
Idiomatic
noun
A soft, light part that covers a bird's body and helps it to fly.
The bird lost a feather when it flew away.
Often appears as...
- bird's feather
- feather pillow
verb
To cover or line with feathers.
She feathered the nest with soft material for the eggs.
Often appears as...
- feather a nest
- feather a bed
verb
To change the angle of (oar blades) while rowing.
He feathered the oars for easier rowing.
Often appears as...
- feather the oars
- feathering technique in rowing
Usage tips
Technical
phrase
To 'feather one's nest' means to use your position or job improperly to make a lot of money or gain other benefits.
He was accused of feathering his nest with public funds.
Often appears as...
- feather one's nest with
- accused of feathering their nest
Usage tips
Disapproving
Idiomatic
phrase
'Birds of a feather flock together' is a phrase that means people who are similar usually spend time with each other.
They're always together, but then again, birds of a feather flock together.
Often appears as...
- birds of a feather
- birds of a feather together
Usage tips
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/3Animal association
Feather is strongly associated with birds, symbolizing flight and freedom.
The artist used a feather in his painting to represent liberty.
Pro Tip 2/3Descriptive imagery
Use 'feather' to describe lightness or delicacy in writing, similar to a soft touch.
Her dress brushed against the floor like a feather.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural symbol
Feathers can symbolize honor and achievement in some Native American cultures.
He wore a feather to signify his bravery.
Pro Tip 1/3Animal association
Feather is strongly associated with birds, symbolizing flight and freedom.
The artist used a feather in his painting to represent liberty.
Pro Tip 2/3Descriptive imagery
Use 'feather' to describe lightness or delicacy in writing, similar to a soft touch.
Her dress brushed against the floor like a feather.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural symbol
Feathers can symbolize honor and achievement in some Native American cultures.
He wore a feather to signify his bravery.
Pro Tip 1/3Animal association
Feather is strongly associated with birds, symbolizing flight and freedom.
The artist used a feather in his painting to represent liberty.
Pro Tip 2/3Descriptive imagery
Use 'feather' to describe lightness or delicacy in writing, similar to a soft touch.
Her dress brushed against the floor like a feather.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural symbol
Feathers can symbolize honor and achievement in some Native American cultures.
He wore a feather to signify his bravery.
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Video examples
The next software...
It needs deep expertise, years of specialization. And experimental protocols are difficult to discover and all too often, difficult to reproduce. And, you know, we have a tendency in biology to focus a lot on the parts, but we all know that something like flying wouldn't be understood by only studying feathers.
Video examples
This Platypus Can Glow...
birds are developing their feathers there are tiny bubbles of water that help push the feather out and what happens is is the water evaporates leaving holes in the feather now wavelengths travel down from the sun they bounce off in these little holes and depending on the type of wavelength
Video examples
The Egyptian Book of the...
precisely so Ani's heart doesn't betray him by recalling the time he listened to his neighbors fight or washed his feet in the Nile. Now, it's Ani's moment of truth, the weighing of the heart. If his heart is heavier than the feather, weighed down by Ani's wrongdoings,
Video examples
Top 5 Dinosaur Moments PIPE...
this was a feathered dinosaur but these feathers aren't for keeping warm or for show their structure is plainly visible from the fossils they are very long veined and most importantly their shape creates a perfect aerodynamic surface
Video examples
How do we know what...
Let's return to the microraptor fossil. When scientists examined its feather imprints under a powerful microscope, they found nanostructures that look like melanosomes. X-ray analysis of the melanosomes further supported that theory.
Video examples
How math saved my life PIPE...
lab and a friend that I had talked to came in all excited and he said they were studying interference patterns and when he showed me these a feather could have knocked me over because the interference patterns were identical to
Video examples
Nature's Oddest Looking...
oldest patches of rainforests in the world growing to a height of one and a half meters and equipped with enormous dinosaur like claws cassowaries have been described as the planet's most dangerous birds but these feathered
Video examples
Feathers in Flight: The...
Yeah. Here we go. OK, so the first thing I'm going to do is one of the most important things is to have the genetic samples. So I'm going to pluck the tail feather first. Sorry, guy.
Video examples
Feeding A Hungry Barn...
sudden downpours can take a heavy toll of young birds so it is just as well that their mother's feathers can create a waterproof cloak to protect her
Video examples
Quelea Mega-Flock Hunted...
stand a chance the survivors may have had their feathers ruffled but they've learned an important lesson
Video examples
The next software...
It needs deep expertise, years of specialization. And experimental protocols are difficult to discover and all too often, difficult to reproduce. And, you know, we have a tendency in biology to focus a lot on the parts, but we all know that something like flying wouldn't be understood by only studying feathers.
Video examples
This Platypus Can Glow...
birds are developing their feathers there are tiny bubbles of water that help push the feather out and what happens is is the water evaporates leaving holes in the feather now wavelengths travel down from the sun they bounce off in these little holes and depending on the type of wavelength
Video examples
The Egyptian Book of the...
precisely so Ani's heart doesn't betray him by recalling the time he listened to his neighbors fight or washed his feet in the Nile. Now, it's Ani's moment of truth, the weighing of the heart. If his heart is heavier than the feather, weighed down by Ani's wrongdoings,
Video examples
Top 5 Dinosaur Moments PIPE...
this was a feathered dinosaur but these feathers aren't for keeping warm or for show their structure is plainly visible from the fossils they are very long veined and most importantly their shape creates a perfect aerodynamic surface
Video examples
How do we know what...
Let's return to the microraptor fossil. When scientists examined its feather imprints under a powerful microscope, they found nanostructures that look like melanosomes. X-ray analysis of the melanosomes further supported that theory.
Video examples
How math saved my life PIPE...
lab and a friend that I had talked to came in all excited and he said they were studying interference patterns and when he showed me these a feather could have knocked me over because the interference patterns were identical to
Video examples
Nature's Oddest Looking...
oldest patches of rainforests in the world growing to a height of one and a half meters and equipped with enormous dinosaur like claws cassowaries have been described as the planet's most dangerous birds but these feathered
Video examples
Feathers in Flight: The...
Yeah. Here we go. OK, so the first thing I'm going to do is one of the most important things is to have the genetic samples. So I'm going to pluck the tail feather first. Sorry, guy.
Video examples
Feeding A Hungry Barn...
sudden downpours can take a heavy toll of young birds so it is just as well that their mother's feathers can create a waterproof cloak to protect her
Video examples
Quelea Mega-Flock Hunted...
stand a chance the survivors may have had their feathers ruffled but they've learned an important lesson
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Jacob Collier
English Musician
I suppose for me, with 'Djesse,' I realized fairly early in the process that I also needed a character to walk this path, which in some ways is me, and in some ways is not me. I think of Djesse a bit like the infinite child who can see everything and walk into everything as light as a feather and just alchemize.
Quote examples
Sarah Brightman
English Musician
When I sing, I close my eyes. If I see a feather, everything is fine. Without this image in my mind, the sound is not 'truthful' enough, and I must begin again. I have to.
Quote examples
Shania Twain
Canadian Musician
Yes, you can lose somebody overnight, yes, your whole life can be turned upside down. Life is short. It can come and go like a feather in the wind.
Quote examples
Helen Keller
American Author
As the eagle was killed by the arrow winged with his own feather, so the hand of the world is wounded by its own skill.
Quote examples
Paul Eldridge
American Educator
Praises for our past triumphs are as feathers to a dead bird.
Quote examples
Chuck Palahniuk
American Novelist
Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken.
Quote examples
Aesop
Greek Author
It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.
Quote examples
Javier Perez de Cuellar
Peruvian Diplomat
I am a free man. I feel as light as a feather.
Quote examples
Johnny Depp
American Actor
I may have a feather duster down my pants.
Quote examples
Alexander Pope
English Poet
A brain of feathers, and a heart of lead.
Quote examples
Jacob Collier
English Musician
I suppose for me, with 'Djesse,' I realized fairly early in the process that I also needed a character to walk this path, which in some ways is me, and in some ways is not me. I think of Djesse a bit like the infinite child who can see everything and walk into everything as light as a feather and just alchemize.
Quote examples
Sarah Brightman
English Musician
When I sing, I close my eyes. If I see a feather, everything is fine. Without this image in my mind, the sound is not 'truthful' enough, and I must begin again. I have to.
Quote examples
Shania Twain
Canadian Musician
Yes, you can lose somebody overnight, yes, your whole life can be turned upside down. Life is short. It can come and go like a feather in the wind.
Quote examples
Helen Keller
American Author
As the eagle was killed by the arrow winged with his own feather, so the hand of the world is wounded by its own skill.
Quote examples
Paul Eldridge
American Educator
Praises for our past triumphs are as feathers to a dead bird.
Quote examples
Chuck Palahniuk
American Novelist
Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken.
Quote examples
Aesop
Greek Author
It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.
Quote examples
Javier Perez de Cuellar
Peruvian Diplomat
I am a free man. I feel as light as a feather.
Quote examples
Johnny Depp
American Actor
I may have a feather duster down my pants.
Quote examples
Alexander Pope
English Poet
A brain of feathers, and a heart of lead.
Example 1 of 10
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