Term Gallery logo

Meanings of preen in English

Catalan
arreglar-se

Dress or groom with elaborate care.

arreglar-se
Spanish
pavonearse

Pride or congratulate (oneself) for an achievement.

pavonearse
Usage of preen in English
1
Even wild kakapos are known to approach, climb on, and preen people.
Wired
2
Carefully, he began to preen, pulling out some feathers and smoothing others.
Secrets of the Wolves
3
He said you'd pine and you'd preen, and how very right he was.
Imajica: Complete Edition
4
There were many store-windows to preen before, as in a mirror.
Half a Rogue
5
Birds came there to drink and bathe and preen and dress their feathers.
The Shuttle
6
What's more, you get the caress and preen of high-class service.
The Guardian
7
At this age redstart nestlings preen vigorously and fly short distances.
Ohio Arbor Day 1913: Arbor and Bird Day Manual / Issued for the ...
8
Some of them do nothing all day but preen their feathers.
Dot and the Kangaroo
9
The two resident ducks preen by the pond beyond the restaurant's deep window.
The Irish Times
10
No longer did she preen herself, as had been her wont.
Stories of Animal Sagacity
11
That's why it's stupid to preen oneself for having transcended morality.
Evil and the Mask
12
Some immortals would always primp and preen for the media, and some simply wouldn't.
The Bride Wore Black Leather
13
They also end up ingesting the oil when they preen, damaging their digestive tracts.
Reuters
14
His feathers shuddered visibly; he could no longer preen himself.
The Great Taboo
15
Maria took Powell's hand dazedly, mechanically beginning to preen herself.
The Demolished Man
16
The monitor fizzled out, and a preen light on the missiles console winked red.
Artemis Fowl: the opal deception
About this term
More collocations
Translations for preen
Preen through the time