Skip to main content
plume

plume

5 4.9
A large decorative feather used on birds and hats
  • noun
  • /pluːm/
: pluma
  • For a brief instant, Mchylus saw a lone helmet, crowned by twin white plumes, in the lead.
  • feather plumes
  • topped with plumes

Meanwhile, those of the chasseurs was decorated with tassels, braids and a scarlet plume.

Examples

  • Indeed, there was a parade, dark horses with plumes and coaches like something out of a fairy tale.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The horses had bells on their harnesses and colorful plumes on their heads.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Can you see the feathery plume from the attic?

  • I want to sell ostrich plumes.

  • Here and there, grasses raised white plumes into the cold air, their undersides pale brown.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • The cloud's white plume leaned over her like a gigantic frosty cliff, filling the sky above.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Even without the lieutenant's red sash and ostrich plume hat, Mont now spotted the officer coming up the street.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • His ragtag outfit is topped with a large turban, from which sprout the plumes of some unidentifiable bird.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • And then this bird of paradise, which is so-called lesser bird of paradise is perhaps the most well known kind where plumes sprout from beneath the wings.

  • The peacock displayed its vibrant feathers, creating a stunning plume that captured everyone's attention.

Synonyms

1 3.9

A long soft feather or small group of feathers used to decorate clothing

is a broader term that also covers large feathers and bird coverings
panache
vsplume
  • Archaic
8.9

A tall bunch of feathers worn on a helmet as decoration

is the general decorative feather term not limited to helmets
plumette
vsplume
8.4

A small soft feather used as a decoration on clothes or hats

is larger or may mean a group used for broader decoration

Compounds

nom de plume
  • Literature
3 8.2

A name an author uses instead of their real name

A long soft feather or small group of feathers used to decorate clothing

1 9.8

Tall grass with large feathery tops often grown in gardens

1 9.9

A tall garden plant with large feathery white flowers

9.5

A plant that lives for several years with thick yellow flower spikes and blue-green divided leaves

Prince-of-Wales plume
  • New Zealand
9.9

A New Zealand fern with divided leaves and hairy stems

A tall American annual with hairy stems, long red flower spikes, and seeds used as cereal

A perennial plant with leathery blue-green divided leaves and thick yellow flower spikes

An annual plant with broad rounded leaves and long thin clusters of red hanging flowers

A part of a living thing that has a feather at the tip, like a tail or flower

A prickly plant with bright purple or yellow flower heads that attract insects

9.9

A Mexican shrub with bright red flowers grown in gardens

How Showy

plume
5 4.9
plumage
9 5.8
feather
254 1.0
down
29 4.8

Surface Forms

plume singular
plumes plural

Etymology

Plume comes from the Latin word pluma, meaning 'soft feather', and passed into French before English. So a plume is a large or decorative feather.