Illustration of feather
- A-1 quill
- A-2 vane; B-1 barb
- B-2 barbule
- B-3 barbicel with hamulus
1
a
: any of the light, horny epidermal outgrowths that form the external covering of the body of birds
Note: Feathers include the smaller down feathers and the larger contour and flight feathers. Larger feathers consist of a shaft (rachis) bearing branches (barbs) which bear smaller branches (barbules). These smaller branches bear tiny hook-bearing processes (barbicels) which interlock with the barbules of an adjacent barb to link the barbs into a continuous stiff vane. Down feathers lack barbules, resulting in fluffy feathers which provide insulation below the contour feathers.
b
archaic
: plume sense 2a
c
: the vane of an arrow
2
4
: a projecting strip, rib, fin, or flange
5
: a feathery flaw in the eye or in a precious stone
6
: the act of feathering an oar
featherless
adjective
see also:
feathered; feathering
ˈfet͟h-riŋ 
ˈfe-t͟hə-
1
a
: to furnish (something, such as an arrow) with a feather
b
: to cover, clothe, or adorn with or as if with feathers
2
a
: to turn (an oar blade) almost horizontal when lifting from the water at the end of a stroke to reduce air resistance
b(1)
: to change the angle of (airplane propeller blades) so that the chords become approximately parallel to the line of flight
also
: to change the angle of airplane propeller blades of (an engine) in such a manner
(2)
: to change the angle of (a rotor blade of a rotorcraft) periodically in forward flight
3
: to reduce the edge of to a featheredge
4
a
of a bird
: to cut (the air) with a wing
b
of a fish
: to cut (the water) with a fin
5
: to join by a tongue and groove
6
: to hit, throw, pass, or shoot softly and usually with precision
feathered a perfect lob over the net
1
: to grow or form feathers
2
: to have or take on the appearance of a feather or something feathered
3
: to soak in and spread : blur
—used of ink or a printed impression
4
: to feather an oar or an airplane propeller blade
see also:
Examples of feather in a Sentence
Noun
they are a very sports-minded couple, and most of their friends are of the same feather
prom couples strutted into the ballroom in full feather
Recent Examples on the Web
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
3 July 2026
The elephants are escorted by handlers who fan them with peacock feathers and yak-hair whisks.
—
ABC News,
3 July 2026
ABC News,
3 July 2026
The new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library designed by Snøhetta melds with the surrounding North Dakota landscape—its roof feathered with native prairie grasses that twist and bend in the wind.
—
Kathryn O’Shea-Evans,
Robb Report,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for feather
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Noun
Mayor Dean Trantalis, Commissioner Steven Glassman and Commissioner John Herbst took issue with her leadership, accusing her of being dismissive to subordinates and ruffling too many feathers.
—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
3 July 2026
The elephants are escorted by handlers who fan them with peacock feathers and yak-hair whisks.
—
ABC News,
3 July 2026
Verb
In the village of Kfaroue in southern Lebanon, Hussein Hamza makes his daily rounds to feed and check on his furry and feathered charges.
—
ABC News,
3 July 2026
The new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library designed by Snøhetta melds with the surrounding North Dakota landscape—its roof feathered with native prairie grasses that twist and bend in the wind.
—
Kathryn O’Shea-Evans,
Robb Report,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for feather
Cite this Entry
“Feather.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feather. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
feather
1 of 2 noun
feath·er
ˈfet͟h-ər
1
: one of the light horny growths that make up the outer covering of the body of a bird
2
a
: kind entry 1 sense 1, nature
birds of a feather
b
: clothing sense 1, dress
in full feather
c
: condition entry 1 sense 5b, mood
in fine feather
feather
2 of 2 verb
feathered; feathering
ˈfet͟h-(ə-)riŋ
1
a
: to provide (as an arrow) with a feather
b
: to cover, clothe, or adorn with feathers
2
a
: to turn (an oar blade) parallel to the water when lifting from the water at the end of a stroke
b
: to change the angle of (airplane propeller blades) to reduce air resistance
also
: to change the angle of airplane propeller blades of (an engine) in such a manner
3
: to grow feathers
4
: to move, spread, or grow like feathers
Medical Definition
feather
noun
feath·er
ˈfet͟h-ər
: one of the light horny epidermal outgrowths that form the external covering of the body of birds and that consist of a shaft bearing on each side a series of barbs which bear barbules which in turn bear barbicels commonly ending in the hooked processes and interlocking with the barbules of an adjacent barb to link the barbs into a continuous vane
Geographical Definition
Feather
geographical name
Feath·er
ˈfe-t͟hər
river 100 miles (161 kilometers) long in north central California flowing south into the Sacramento River
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