feather

Less common meanings

4. 4
   touch lightlyverbtransitive

   To touch or move something very lightly and gently, like a feather would.

   Snowflakes feather your face as they fall.

   He feathered the baby's cheek with one finger.

   UsageUsed mostly in stories, about wind or very soft touches.

   Similarbrush, graze, skim, caress, stroke

   Note
5. 5
   kindnoun

   A kind or type of person or thing.

   Those two friends are birds of a feather. They like all the same things.

   Those two are birds of a feather, always late and always laughing.

   UsageMostly in birds of a feather: people who are alike.

   Similarkind, sort, type, stripe, ilk

   Note
6. 6
   arrow finnouncountable

   One of the small flat pieces on the back end of an arrow that help it fly straight.

   Each arrow has a red feather near its end.

   One of the feathers broke off, and the arrow flew sideways.

   Similarvane

7. 7
   leg hairnouncountable or uncountable

   The long hair that grows on the lower legs of some dogs and horses.

   The Clydesdale's white feather was brushed clean before the big show.

   Spaniels often have soft feathers on their legs that need regular trimming.

   Similarfeathering

   Note
8. 8
   soften edges (photo)verbtransitive

   To make the edge of a picture fade slowly into what is behind it.

   Like the soft edge of a shadow, which fades out slowly instead of stopping at a sharp line.

   You can feather the edges of the photo so it mixes into the page.

   She feathered the picture's border so the cut did not look sharp.

   Similarsoften, blend, blur

   Note
9. 9
   propellerverbtransitive

   To turn a plane's propeller blades so the wind cannot spin them after the engine stops.

   Like turning your hand sideways out a car window so the wind slides past it.

   The pilot feathered the propeller when the left engine failed.

   Pilots feather the blades so a dead engine does not slow the plane.

   Note
10. 10
    turn oarsverbtransitive or intransitive

    To turn the oars flat while they are out of the water so the wind slows them less.

    The rowers feather their oars between strokes.

    She feathered her oar as soon as it left the water.

    Oppositesquare

    Note
11. 11
    thin an edgeverbtransitive

    To make an edge thinner and thinner, by sanding it or spreading something thinly, until it blends into the nearby surface.

    Feather the edge of the wood so the two boards meet without a bump.

    He feathered the dried paint with fine sandpaper.

    Similartaper, bevel, blend

    Note
12. 12
    blur (ink)verbintransitive

    To spread into the paper and look blurry, used about ink.

    Like a drop of food coloring spreading out in water.

    Cheap paper makes the ink feather when you write fast.

    Fountain pen ink often feathers on cheap notebook paper.

    Similarspread, run, blur

    Note
13. 13
    make richerverbtransitive

    To make a person richer or better off.

    The mayor was caught using city money to feather his own nest.

    Some officials feathered their nests with money meant for schools.

    UsageMostly in feather your own nest: get rich, often unfairly.

    Similarenrich, advance, benefit

    Oppositeimpoverish

    Note
14. 14
    cricketnouncountable

    In cricket, a very light touch of the ball on the edge of the bat.

    There was a feather as the ball passed the bat, and the keeper caught it.

    The umpire heard the tiny feather and raised his finger.

    Similarnick, edge, snick

    Note
15. 15
    game birdsnoununcountableplural

    Birds that people hunt, such as pheasants and partridges, not furry animals like rabbits and hares.

    Grandpa's old dog was trained to find feather, not fur.

    The old butcher shop sold game of every kind, both fur and feather.

    Oppositefur

    Note
16. 16
    blade tilt (rowing)nouncountable

    The angle of an oar's blade as it goes into or comes out of the water.

    The coach shouted at us to hold the oars on the feather between strokes.

    Out of the water, the blade turns to the feather, flat above the waves.

    Similarangle, pitch

    Note
17. 17
    nounarchaic

    A very small or unimportant thing or amount.

    To some pew purchasers he gave deeds, to others he gave, none, but both were promised security, and both it seems were equally secure, for the pew deed as Mr. Melledge declared to Mr. G. was not worth a feather.

    1823, An Ecclesiastical Memoir of Essex Street Religious Society
18. 18
    verbrare

    To make something feel very light, as if it could fly.
19. 19
    noun

    A long, thin strip on an object that makes it stronger or stops it from sliding sideways.
20. 20
    noun

    One of two metal pieces put into a hole in stone. A wedge driven between them splits the stone.
21. 21
    verb

    In pool or snooker, to slide the cue back and forth before hitting the ball.
22. 22
    verb

    In pool or snooker, to touch the white ball by accident while getting ready to shoot.
23. 23
    noun

    A row of white lights on a train signal that shows the train will take a side track.
24. 24
    verbobsolete

    To mate with a hen, used about a rooster.