plumage
the entire feathery covering of a bird.
feathers collectively.
Origin of plumage
1Other words from plumage
- plumaged, adjective
Words Nearby plumage
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use plumage in a sentence
When it’s time to impress a potential mate, many birds rely on their eye-popping plumage.
This 120-million-year-old bird may have been one of the first to shake its tail feathers | Kate Baggaley | September 17, 2021 | Popular-ScienceTo begin investigating why some female jacobins have colorful blue plumage, Falk and colleagues captured and released over 400 of the birds in Gamboa, Panama, using genetics to determine their sex.
Female hummingbirds may sport flashy feathers to avoid being harassed | Carolyn Wilke | August 26, 2021 | Science NewsIf iridescent feathers lose heat as quickly as they acquire it, the sunbirds could use shade to cool off, blunting the effect of the hot plumage.
Sunbirds’ dazzling feathers are hot, in both senses of the word | Jake Buehler | August 17, 2021 | Science NewsOther experts have suggested that external factors, such as a poor diet or harsh climate, could ultimately affect the quality and color of their plumage.
4 unexpected facts about the Northern cardinal, a bird you should know better | Purbita Saha | July 26, 2021 | Popular-ScienceA patch of three oddly short feathers spotted among the fossilized plumage of Microraptor may be the first evidence of a nonbird dinosaur molting.
This dinosaur may have shed its feathers like modern songbirds | Carolyn Gramling | July 16, 2020 | Science News
Every sort of pelt, skin, or plumage was part of this collection.
Milan Fashion Week’s Big Finale: Versace and Dolce & Gabbana Wow, While Armani Falls Short | Robin Givhan | February 27, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTThe Cowell of yesteryear has plenty of time to return in all his plumage.
She adds that it was an adult male in full plumage, and that she saw it herself at Mr. Couch's shop.
Birds of Guernsey (1879) | Cecil SmithThe two dead ones he brought me were one in red and the other in green plumage, and the live one was in green plumage.
Birds of Guernsey (1879) | Cecil SmithIt was, however, still in the same green plumage when it was killed as it was when I brought it home, though it had moulted twice.
Birds of Guernsey (1879) | Cecil SmithI have, however, a Redshank in full breeding plumage, killed in Guernsey as late as the 23rd of April.
Birds of Guernsey (1879) | Cecil SmithThere are two specimens in the Museum—a male in full plumage and a female or young male.
Birds of Guernsey (1879) | Cecil Smith
British Dictionary definitions for plumage
/ (ˈpluːmɪdʒ) /
the layer of feathers covering the body of a bird
Origin of plumage
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for plumage
[ plōō′mĭj ]
The covering of feathers on a bird.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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