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Glite Dictionary
preen gland

preen gland

8.4
An oil gland at the base of a bird's tail that birds use to spread oil on their feathers
  • noun
  • /priːn ɡlænd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : glándula uropigial
  • Many birds have a preen gland located near their tail.

Examples

  • The duck used its preen gland to spread oil over its feathers.

  • Damage to a bird’s preen gland can affect its waterproofing abilities.

  • Scientists studied the composition of oil secreted by the preen gland.

  • The bird uses its preen gland to keep its feathers healthy.

  • The duck used its preen gland to spread oil over its feathers.

  • Damage to a bird’s preen gland can affect its waterproofing abilities.

  • The bird uses its preen gland to keep its feathers healthy.

Synonyms

oil gland
vspreen gland
1 3.7

A small part of the skin that makes oil to keep skin and feathers waterproof

applies specifically to the tail base oil used to keep feathers healthy
uropygial gland
vspreen gland
  • Specialized
9.9

A small part near a bird's tail that makes oil birds use to clean and waterproof their feathers

is the same gland but focuses on feather maintenance not waterproofing

Surface Forms

preen gland singular
preen glands plural

Morphology

preen + gland

The meaning is directly compositional: 'preen' (to clean feathers) combined with 'gland' (a secretory organ) yields a gland used for preening. Although somewhat specialized biological terminology, a B1 learner who knows both constituents can reasonably infer it is the organ birds use to secrete fluids/oil for feather maintenance.

Etymology

Preen gland comes from the bird verb preen, which means 'to clean and arrange feathers'. Birds take oil from a small gland at the base of their tail and rub it into their feathers to keep them clean and waterproof, so the name points to the oil gland birds use to care for their feathers.