Meaning of "feather" in the English dictionary

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD FEATHER

Old English fether; related to Old Frisian fethere, Old Norse fjöthr feather, Old High German fedara wing, Greek petesthai to fly, Sanskrit patati he flies.

Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.

PRONUNCIATION OF FEATHER

feather  [ˈfɛðə]

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF FEATHER

Feather is a verb and can also act as a noun.

A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

The verb is the part of the sentence that is conjugated and expresses action and state of being.

See the conjugation of the verb feather in English.

WHAT DOES FEATHER MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Feather

Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds and some non-avian theropod dinosaurs. They are considered the most complex integumentary structures found in vertebrates, and indeed a premier example of a complex evolutionary novelty. They are among the characteristics that distinguish the extant Aves from other living groups. Feathers have also been noticed in those Theropoda which have been termed feathered dinosaurs. Although feathers cover most parts of the body of birds, they arise only from certain well-defined tracts on the skin. They aid in flight, thermal insulation, waterproofing, and coloration that helps in communication and protection.

Definition of feather in the English dictionary

The first definition of feather in the dictionary is any of the flat light waterproof epidermal structures forming the plumage of birds, each consisting of a hollow shaft having a vane of barbs on either side. They are essential for flight and help maintain body temperature. Other definition of feather is something resembling a feather, such as a tuft of hair or grass. Feather is also a bird's feather or artificial substitute fitted to an arrow to direct its flight.

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO FEATHER

PRESENT

Present

I feather

you feather

he/she/it feathers

we feather

you feather

they feather

Present continuous

I am feathering

you are feathering

he/she/it is feathering

we are feathering

you are feathering

they are feathering

Present perfect

I have feathered

you have feathered

he/she/it has feathered

we have feathered

you have feathered

they have feathered

Present perfect continuous

I have been feathering

you have been feathering

he/she/it has been feathering

we have been feathering

you have been feathering

they have been feathering

Present tense is used to refer to circumstances that exist at the present time or over a period that includes the present time. The present perfect refers to past events, although it can be considered to denote primarily the resulting present situation rather than the events themselves.

PAST

Past

I feathered

you feathered

he/she/it feathered

we feathered

you feathered

they feathered

Past continuous

I was feathering

you were feathering

he/she/it was feathering

we were feathering

you were feathering

they were feathering

Past perfect

I had feathered

you had feathered

he/she/it had feathered

we had feathered

you had feathered

they had feathered

Past perfect continuous

I had been feathering

you had been feathering

he/she/it had been feathering

we had been feathering

you had been feathering

they had been feathering

Past tense forms express circumstances existing at some time in the past,

FUTURE

Future

I will feather

you will feather

he/she/it will feather

we will feather

you will feather

they will feather

Future continuous

I will be feathering

you will be feathering

he/she/it will be feathering

we will be feathering

you will be feathering

they will be feathering

Future perfect

I will have feathered

you will have feathered

he/she/it will have feathered

we will have feathered

you will have feathered

they will have feathered

Future perfect continuous

I will have been feathering

you will have been feathering

he/she/it will have been feathering

we will have been feathering

you will have been feathering

they will have been feathering

The future is used to express circumstances that will occur at a later time.

CONDITIONAL

Conditional

I would feather

you would feather

he/she/it would feather

we would feather

you would feather

they would feather

Conditional continuous

I would be feathering

you would be feathering

he/she/it would be feathering

we would be feathering

you would be feathering

they would be feathering

Conditional perfect

I would have feather

you would have feather

he/she/it would have feather

we would have feather

you would have feather

they would have feather

Conditional perfect continuous

I would have been feathering

you would have been feathering

he/she/it would have been feathering

we would have been feathering

you would have been feathering

they would have been feathering

Conditional or "future-in-the-past" tense refers to hypothetical or possible actions.

IMPERATIVE

Imperative

you feather
we let´s feather
you feather

The imperative is used to form commands or requests.

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

Infinitive

to feather

Past participle

feathered

Present Participle

feathering

Infinitive shows the action beyond temporal perspective. The present participle or gerund shows the action during the session. The past participle shows the action after completion.

SYNONYMS OF «FEATHER»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «feather» and belong to the same grammatical category.

synonyms of feather

plume

TRANSLATION OF FEATHER

Find out the translation of feather to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

The translations of feather from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «feather» in English.

• Translator English - Chinese: 羽毛
• Translator English - Spanish: pluma
• English: feather
• Translator English - Hindi: पंख
• Translator English - Arabic: رِيشَة
• Translator English - Russian: перо
• Translator English - Portuguese: pena
• Translator English - Bengali: পালক
• Translator English - French: plume
• Translator English - Malay: Bulu
• Translator English - German: Feder
• Translator English - Japanese: 羽
• Translator English - Korean: 깃털
• Translator English - Javanese: Wulu
• Translator English - Vietnamese: lông vũ
• Translator English - Tamil: இறகு
• Translator English - Marathi: पंख
• Translator English - Turkish: kuş tüyü
• Translator English - Italian: piuma
• Translator English - Polish: pióro
• Translator English - Ukrainian: перо
• Translator English - Romanian: pană
• Translator English - Greek: πούπουλο
• Translator English - Afrikaans: feather
• Translator English - Swedish: fjäder
• Translator English - Norwegian: fjær

10 QUOTES WITH «FEATHER»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word feather.

1

Lucy Alibar

My grandmother had six kids - one died as an infant - and she was dirt-poor, and all her kids got an education. And my mom grew up poor. And they both worked so hard and cultivated so much of their own happiness. I wanted to have that like an amulet. Not like armor, but like a magic feather. Like Dumbo's magic feather.

2

Joanna Baillie

A willing heart adds feather to the heel.

3

Sarah Brightman

When I sing, I close my eyes. If I see a feather, everything is fine. Without this image in my mind, the sound is not 'truthful' enough, and I must begin again. I have to.

4

Kimberly Caldwell

I like things in my hair - big feather pieces.

5

Steve Carell

Everybody wants to be a Bond villain. That is the coolest. To be able to portray a Bond villain, that is the feather in any actor's cap.

6

John Cleveland

Love melts the rigor which the rocks have bred; a flint will break upon a feather bed.

7

Javier Perez de Cuellar

I am a free man. I feel as light as a feather.

8

Allen Ginsberg

Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather boa!

9

Geri Halliwell

I have been wearing black, which was a reaction to the Ginger thing. But now I have hopes and I can be anything. Tomorrow I might be naked with a feather boa, who knows?

10

Katharine Hepburn

Why slap them on the wrist with feather when you can belt them over the head with a sledgehammer.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «FEATHER»

Discover the use of feather in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to feather and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

Hetty Feather

Featuring a brand-new feisty Victorian heroine, Hetty Feather, this is a compelling, moving, funny and totally fascinating Tracy Beaker-esque tale that will thrill and captivate readers.

Jacqueline Wilson, 2009

Electric Feather

The Tranquebar Book of Erotic Stories is an unadulterated, edgy look at sex and passion.

Ruchir Joshi, 2009

Geologic History of the Feather River Country, California

This book covers 400 million years of physical evolution in a language understandable to nonscientists, tracing the volcanic activity, the folding and building of mountains, the breaking of blocks along fault lines, and the work of erosion ...

Cordell Durrell, 1988

The Feather Room

The work recounts loss and heartbreak while discovering lightness and beauty on the other side. Throughout the book, Mojgani opens tree trunks to reveal chandeliers.

Anis Mojgani, 2011

A Feather on the Breath of God: A Novel

A Novel Sigrid Nunez. P-A-R-T O-N-E CHANG The first time I ever heard my father speak Chinese A FEATHER ON THE BREATH OF GOD: PART ONE CHANG.

Sigrid Nunez, 2005

Killer Elite

Ranulph Fiennes, himself a former SAS officer, uses his unique knowledge to craft this amazing thriller, now a major film, featuring Robert De Niro, Jason Statham and Clive Owen.

Ranulph Fiennes, 2011

Feather and Brush: Three Centuries of Australian Bird Art

This volume traces the 300-year history of bird art in Australia, from the crudely illustrated records of the earliest European voyages of discovery to the diversity of artwork available at the start of the 21st century.

Penny Olsen, 2001

Not in Feather Beds: Some Collected Papers

Twenty-two lectures, addresses, speeches and articles spanning a period of twenty years on a variety of subjects.

Cyril John Radcliffe Radcliffe (Viscount), 1968

Feather Medicine: Walking in Shoshone Dreamtine: A Family ...

Feather Medicine chronicles the journey of a contemporary, bi-cultural Shoshone woman who has inherited her maternal grandmother's gift of dream and knowing.

Francesca Mason Boring, 2004

Scarlet Feather

They have the perfect premises, heaps of talent, and even a few contacts, but not everyone seems as pleased by the idea of 'Scarlet Feather' as they are. Tom's parents are disappointed that he has turned his back on the family business.

Maeve Binchy, 2009

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «FEATHER»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term feather is used in the context of the following news items.

Is Ballet Diva Better Than Awesome Feather?

In the aftermath of Sunday's $1.175 million Summit of Speed program at Gulfstream Park, Jacks or Better Farm and trainer Stanley Gold ... «Horse Racing Nation, Jul 15»

3D printer adds a feather on cap for special children

New Delhi: Moving on from paper bags and candle making differently abled children are much more technologically advanced than ever before ... «ABP Live, Jul 15»

Sources Say: Developers feather Hales' re-election nest

Mayor Charlie Hales continues building his re-election war chest — with most large contributions coming from development interests. «Portland Tribune, Jul 15»

Watch mama duck and her ducklings defy death in feather-raising …

Watch mama duck and her ducklings defy death in feather-raising highway crossing (video). ducks.JPG. These ducks use the crosswalk, which ... «OregonLive.com, Jul 15»

Chico man injured in Feather River Canyon

Cal Fire and Butte County Search and Rescue pulled a 19-year-old Chico man from Feather River after he was injured diving into the river. «Paradise Post, Jul 15»

We love you Miss Joseph – Birds of a Feather star Lesley heads to …

Joseph is best known for playing Dorien Green in Birds of a Feather alongside Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson, recording more than 100 ... «Ipswich Star, Jul 15»

Upcoming Pow Wows for July 17-19

Note: This list of pow wows was compiled by One Feather staff. The One Feather does not endorse any of these dances. It is simply a listing of ... «Cherokee One Feather, Jul 15»

Lenny Kravitz loses feather boas to daughter

The 51-year-old has never been shy about his wardrobe choices, donning everything from feather accessories to studded denim. Lenny now ... «Belfast Telegraph, Jul 15»

FEATHER IN OUR CAP: S.C.'s foremost agricultural enterprise …

Garrett and Charles Setzler adjust the temperature in their poultry house to provide a comfortable environment for the chickens. «The Times and Democrat, Jul 15»

Business Spotlight: Two Crowes Ice Cream

... some ice cream in his business, which celebrated its one-year anniversary recently, Two Crowes Ice Cream. (AMBLE SMOKER/One Feather). «Cherokee One Feather, Jul 15»