feather
B1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
one of the many light, flat, thin structures that cover a bird's body, consisting of a central hollow stem with fine hairs or vanes growing on either side.
Any very light object, a symbol of lightness or insignificance; a distinctive decoration or accomplishment (e.g., 'a feather in one's cap'); verb meaning to trim or adjust the angle of an oar or propeller blade, or to join materials by overlapping edges.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a concrete noun, but used in many metaphorical and idiomatic expressions. The verb senses are less common and more specialized.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. Minor spelling differences in derived terms (e.g., 'feathery' vs. 'feathery' is the same).
Connotations
Similar connotations of lightness, softness, and delicacy in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both UK and US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[N] feather[V] feather one's nest[V] feather an oar[Adj] feather-lightVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A feather in one's cap”
- “Birds of a feather flock together”
- “Light as a feather”
- “Ruffle someone's feathers”
- “Feather one's nest”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically: 'The deal was a feather in the company's cap.'
Academic
Used in biology/ornithology: 'The specimen's primary feathers were examined.'
Everyday
Common in descriptions: 'The pillow is stuffed with duck feathers.'
Technical
In rowing/aeronautics: 'Feather the oars/propeller to reduce drag.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The cox called to feather the oars as they passed the finish line.
- He expertly feathered the propeller blades.
American English
- The rowers were instructed to feather their oars on the recovery.
- The pilot feathered the engine's prop to glide silently.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I found a beautiful white feather on the ground.
- The duck has soft feathers.
- The pillow was filled with goose feathers and was very comfortable.
- Birds use their feathers to keep warm and to fly.
- Her criticism didn't ruffle his feathers in the slightest; he remained perfectly calm.
- Landing that client was a real feather in her cap.
- The rowing team practised feathering their oars in perfect unison to minimise wind resistance.
- His argument was as light as a feather, lacking any substantive evidence.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
FEATHER: Fluffy, Elegant, Airy, Thin, Helps Every Bird Rise.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIGHTNESS IS UP/GOOD (e.g., 'feather-light', 'light as a feather'); INSIGNIFICANCE IS LIGHT (e.g., 'not a feather out of place').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'перо' when it means a writing pen (in English 'pen'). In English, 'feather' is specifically the bird's body part, not the tool for writing.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'The bird lost a feather on its wing.' (Correct: 'The bird lost a feather *from* its wing.')
- Incorrect plural spelling: 'feathers' (correct), not 'feather's' (possessive).
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'birds of a feather flock together' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, but it is also used metaphorically for anything very light or delicate (e.g., 'feather-light touch') and for similar structures on some dinosaurs in paleontology.
A 'plume' is a type of feather, typically a large, long, and showy one, often used for decoration. All plumes are feathers, but not all feathers are plumes.
Yes, but its verb senses are more specialised. It can mean to adjust the angle of an oar or propeller blade to reduce drag, or to join materials (like wood or hair) by overlapping the edges.
It is an idiom meaning to use one's position or resources to enrich oneself, often dishonestly or selfishly.