# feathering

Pronunciation: US say "FETH-uh-ring" /ˈfɛð.əɹ.ɪŋ/; UK say "FETH-uh-ing" /ˈfɛð.ə(ɹ).ɪŋ/

## Verb

1. Present participle and gerund of feather. — present participle and gerund of feather
   - Simple: Present participle and gerund of feather. Use this form for the action happening now.
   - _Feathering the throttle gently, the pilot eased the plane onto the runway._
   - _He spent the whole evening feathering arrows for the morning hunt._

## Noun

2. The plumage of a bird; its overall covering of feathers.
   - Simple: The covering of feathers on a bird's body.
   - _The pheasant's iridescent feathering shimmered in the autumn light._
   - _Dense feathering insulates waterfowl against the cold of icy water._
3. A texture or surface appearance that resembles feathers.
   - Simple: A soft, feather-like look or texture on a surface.
   - _The artist added subtle feathering to soften the harsh brushstrokes._
   - _A faint feathering of cloud spread across the evening sky._
4. The fine offshoots that spread out from ink trails when writing on overly absorbent paper.
   - Simple: Thin spreading lines of ink that appear when paper soaks up too much.
   - _The fountain pen produced noticeable feathering on the uncoated notebook._
   - _Calligraphers avoid absorbent stock because feathering blurs their finest lines._
5. The fitting of feathers to the shaft of an arrow.
   - Simple: The job of attaching feathers to an arrow.
   - _The feathering of war arrows was skilled, time-consuming work._
   - _Medieval craftsmen learned feathering as one part of their trade._
6. A pattern of small arcs or foils divided by projecting cusps, forming a feather-like ornament along the inner moldings of an arch.
   - Simple: A row of small curved shapes with points between them, used to decorate the inside of an arch.
   - _The cathedral's arches displayed intricate feathering along their inner edges._
   - _Restorers carefully repaired the worn feathering above the chapel doorway._

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/feathering (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).