Definition Synonyms
Definition of preening - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
behavioract of showing off or posturing
- Her preening on stage was evident to everyone.
2.
bird groomingTECH. act of grooming feathers with the beakTECH.
- The bird's preening kept its feathers in top condition.
3.
self-admirationRare act of admiring oneself excessivelyRare
- His constant preening in front of the mirror was annoying.
Adjective
1.
proudshowing excessive pride in appearance
- She walked in with a preening smile, admiring her reflection.
2.
birdTECH. cleaning and arranging feathers with beakTECH.
- The preening bird spent hours grooming its feathers.
Origin of preening
Old English, preon (to pin)
Examples of preening in a sentence
The actor's preening at the award show drew attention. Preening is essential for birds to maintain their flight capabilities. The zoo's exhibit showed a flamingo engaged in preening. Her preening before the event was excessive. The actor's preening during interviews was evident. He gave a preening glance at his new suit.
The preening actor couldn't stop looking at himself in the mirror. The preening parrot looked magnificent in the sunlight. A preening peacock displayed its colorful feathers.
View all translations of preening
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:parade, prétentieux, ...
- German:Gehabe, stolz, ...
- Italian:esibizionismo, pavoneggiato, ...
- Spanish:presunción, presumido, ...
- Portuguese:exibicionismo, presunçoso, ...
- Chinese:摆姿态, 沾沾自喜的, ...
- Japanese:気取り, 自惚れた, ...
- Arabic:تَبَاهٍ, مُتَباهٍ, ...
- Hebrew:הִתְרַבְרְבוּת, מִתְנַפֵּחַ, ...
- Russian:позирование, самодовольный, ...
- Ukrainian:показуха, пихатий, ...
- Hindi:दिखावा, घमंडी, ...
Definition of preen - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
peopleintr. spend time making oneself attractiveintr.
- She preened in front of the mirror before the party.
2.
behaviorintr. show off or postureintr.
- He preened as he accepted the award.
3.
birds groomingtr./intr. smooth or clean feathers with the beaktr./intr.
- The bird began to preen its glossy feathers..
Noun
1.
fashionDated decorative pin or broochDated
- She wore a beautiful preen on her dress.
2.
sewingRare tool used for dressing clothRare
- The tailor used a preen to smooth the fabric.
Images of preen
decorative pin or brooch 
tool used for dressing cloth
Expressions with preen
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
groom oneself with care and vanity
She preened herself before the big event.
Origin of preen
Middle English, prenen (to trim)
Examples of preen in a sentence
The actor preened on the red carpet, enjoying the attention. She preened in front of the mirror before the party. The parrot would preen for hours each day. After a bath, the sparrow started to preen. Her jacket was adorned with a vintage preen. The preen on his lapel was a family heirloom.
She carefully selected a preen for her sewing project. A preen is essential for achieving a crisp seam.
View all translations of preen
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:se pomponner, broche, ...
- German:sich herausputzen, Brosche, ...
- Italian:sistemarsi, spilla, ...
- Spanish:arreglarse, broche, ...
- Portuguese:arranjar-se, broche, ...
- Chinese:打扮, 胸针, ...
- Japanese:身だしなみを整える, ブローチ, ...
- Arabic:تأنق, دَبُّوس زِينَة, ...
- Hebrew:לְהִתְיַפֵּיֵּף, סִכַּת נוֹי, ...
- Russian:прихорашиваться, брошь, ...
- Ukrainian:прихорошуватися, брошка, ...
- Hindi:सजना-सँवरना, प्रीन, ...
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