a vertically or longitudinally moving, rising, or expanding fluid body, as of smoke or water.
9.
a visible pattern of smoke resulting from emissions from a stack, flue, or chimney.
10.
Also called mantle plume.Geology. a deep-seated upwelling of magma within the earth's mantle. Compare diapir.
–verb (used with object)
11.
to furnish, cover, or adorn with plumes or feathers.
12.
(of a bird) to preen (itself or its feathers).
13.
to feel complacent satisfaction with (oneself); pride (oneself) (often fol. by on or upon): She sat before the mirror, pluming herself upon her beauty.
[Origin: 1350–1400; earlier plome, plume, ME plume < MF < L plūma soft feather (> OE plūm-, in plūmfether downy feather)]
1399, "a feather" (especially a large and conspicuous one), from O.Fr. plume, from L. pluma "feather, down," from PIE base *pleus- "to pluck, a feather, fleece" (cf. O.E. fleos "fleece"). Meaning "a long streamer of smoke, etc." is first attested 1878. The verb meaning "to dress the feathers" is from 1702.
A body of magma that rises from the Earth's mantle into the crust. ◇ If a plume rises to the Earth's surface, it erupts as lava. ◇ If it remains below the Earth's surface, it eventually solidifies into a body of rock known as a pluton.
An area in air, water, soil, or rock containing pollutants released from a single source. A plume often spreads in the environment due to the action of wind, currents, or gravity.
Silver Plume, CO (town, FIPS 70360) Location: 39.69608 N, 105.72670 W Population (1990): 134 (130 housing units) Area: 0.6 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Plume\, n. [F., fr. L. pluma. Cf. Fly, v.]1. A feather; esp., a soft, downy feather, or a long, conspicuous, or handsome feather. Wings . . . of many a colored plume. --Milton. 2. (Zo["o]l.) An ornamental tuft of feathers. 3. A feather, or group of feathers, worn as an ornament; a waving ornament of hair, or other material resembling feathers. His high plume, that nodded o'er his head. --Dryden. 4. A token of honor or prowess; that on which one prides himself; a prize or reward. "Ambitious to win from me some plume." --Milton. 5. (Bot.) A large and flexible panicle of inflorescence resembling a feather, such as is seen in certain large ornamental grasses. Plume bird (Zo["o]l.), any bird that yields ornamental plumes, especially the species of Epimarchus from New Guinea, and some of the herons and egrets, as the white heron of Florida (Ardea candidissima). Plume grass. (Bot) (a) A kind of grass (Erianthus saccharoides) with the spikelets arranged in great silky plumes, growing in swamps in the Southern United States. (b) The still finer E. Ravenn[ae] from the Mediterranean region. The name is sometimes extended to the whole genus. Plume moth (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous small, slender moths, belonging to the family Pterophorid[ae]. Most of them have the wings deeply divided into two or more plumelike lobes. Some species are injurious to the grapevine. Plume nutmeg (Bot.), an aromatic Australian tree (Atherosperma moschata), whose numerous carpels are tipped with long plumose persistent styles.
Plume\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Plumed; p. pr. & vb. n. Pluming.] [Cf. F. plumer to pluck, to strip, L. plumare to cover with feathers.]1. To pick and adjust the plumes or feathers of; to dress or prink. Pluming her wings among the breezy bowers. --W. Irving. 2. To strip of feathers; to pluck; to strip; to pillage; also, to peel. [Obs.] --Bacon. Dryden. 3. To adorn with feathers or plumes. "Farewell the plumed troop." --Shak. 4. To pride; to vaunt; to boast; -- used reflexively; as, he plumes himself on his skill. --South. Plumed adder (Zo["o]l.), an African viper (Vipera, or Clotho cornuta), having a plumelike structure over each eye. It is venomous, and is related to the African puff adder. Called also horned viper and hornsman. Plumed partridge (Zo["o]l.), the California mountain quail (Oreortyx pictus). See Mountain quail, under Mountain.
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