preen
(redirected from preeners)Also found in: Thesaurus.
preen
(prēn)v. preened, preen·ing, preens
v.tr.
1.
a. To smooth or clean (feathers) with the beak or bill.
b. To trim or clean (fur) with the tongue, as cats do.
2. To dress or groom (oneself) with elaborate care; primp.
3. To take pride or satisfaction in (oneself); gloat.
v.intr.
1. To dress up; primp.
2. To swell with pride; gloat or exult.
[Middle English proinen, preinen, blend of Old French proignier, to prune; see prune2, and Old French poroindre, to anoint before (por-, before from Latin prō-; see pro-1 + oindre, to anoint, from Latin unguere).]
preen′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
preen
(priːn)vb
1. (Zoology) (of birds) to maintain (feathers) in a healthy condition by arrangement, cleaning, and other contact with the bill
2. to dress or array (oneself) carefully; primp
3. (usually foll by on) to pride or congratulate (oneself)
[C14 preinen, probably from prunen to prune3, influenced by prenen to prick, pin (see preen2); suggestive of the pricking movement of the bird's beak]
ˈpreener n
preen
(priːn)n
Scot a pin, esp a decorative one
[Old English prēon a pin; related to Middle High German pfrieme awl, Dutch priem bodkin]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
preen
(prin)v.t.
1. to trim or dress (feathers, fur, etc.) with the beak or tongue.
2. to dress (oneself) carefully or smartly; primp.
3. to pride (oneself) on an achievement, personal quality, etc.
v.i. 4. to make oneself appear striking or smart in dress or appearance.
5. to be exultant or proud.
[1480–90; late Middle English prene, alter. of Middle English prunen, perhaps by association with prenen, to stab, pierce]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
preen
- Generally thought to be an alteration of prune, "cut branches."See also related terms for prune.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
Preen
of creative directors—Ruffner, 1983.Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
preen
Past participle: preened
Gerund: preening
| Imperative |
|---|
| preen |
| preen |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Verb | 1. | preen - clean with one's bill; "The birds preened" arrange, set up - put into a proper or systematic order; "arrange the books on the shelves in chronological order" clean, make clean - make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from; "Clean the stove!"; "The dentist cleaned my teeth" |
| 2. | preen - pride or congratulate (oneself) for an achievement | |
| 3. | preen - dress or groom with elaborate care; "She likes to dress when going to the opera" attire, deck out, deck up, dress up, fancy up, fig out, fig up, rig out, tog out, tog up, trick out, trick up, gussy up, overdress, prink, get up - put on special clothes to appear particularly appealing and attractive; "She never dresses up, even when she goes to the opera"; "The young girls were all fancied up for the party" dress, get dressed - put on clothes; "we had to dress quickly"; "dress the patient"; "Can the child dress by herself?" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
preen
verb
preen yourself pride yourself, congratulate yourself, give yourself a pat on the back, pique yourself, plume yourself the desire to brag and preen himself over his abilities
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
preen
verbTo be proud of (oneself), as for an accomplishment or achievement:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
يتأنَّق، يَتَباهىيُرَتِّبُ الطائِر ريشَه
parádit serovnat si
gøre sig tilpudse
csinosítja magáttollászkodik
snyrta fjaîrirnarsnyrta sig
gražintigražintispustytivalyti
izdaiļotiespostiessakārtot/tīrīt spalvassaposties
čistiť sičuchrať siparádiť sa
süslenip püslenmektüylerini düzeltmek
preen
[priːn] VT [+ feathers] → arreglarse con el picoto preen itself [bird] → arreglarse las plumas con el pico
to preen o.s [person] → pavonearse, atildarse
to preen o.s. on → enorgullecerse de, jactarse de
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
preen
[ˈpriːn] vt
to preen o.s. (= fuss over one's appearance) → se pomponner
vi
[bird] → lisser ses plumes
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
preen
[priːn] vta. (feathers) → lisciare (con il becco)
the bird was preening itself → l'uccello si stava lisciando le piume
he was preening himself in front of the mirror (fig) (pej) → stava lisciandosi davanti allo specchio
the bird was preening itself → l'uccello si stava lisciando le piume
he was preening himself in front of the mirror (fig) (pej) → stava lisciandosi davanti allo specchio
b. to preen o.s. on sth/on doing sth (liter, pej) → compiacersi di qc/di fare qc
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
preen
(priːn) verb1. (of birds) to arrange (the feathers). The sea-gulls were preening themselves / their feathers.
2. used unkindly, meaning to attend to one's appearance. The woman was preening herself in front of the mirror.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.