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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
              Synonyms
              Examples for "congratulate"
              Examples for "congratulate"
              1
              He said he called Inslee to congratulate him and wish him luck.
              Reuters
              2
              It said Hadi had telephoned the local military commander to congratulate him.
              Reuters
              3
              Mission accomplished, the press proclaimed, and everyone went home to congratulate themselves.
              The Guardian
              4
              Secretary of State John Kerry called Netanyahu on Wednesday to congratulate him.
              Reuters
              5
              And so I congratulate the worker with children in the small library.
              Library Work with Children
              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