plume

[ploom]

noun

1. a feather.

2. a large, long, or conspicuous feather.

   the brilliant plume of a peacock.

3. a soft, fluffy feather.

   the plume of an egret.

4. any plumose part or formation.

5. a feather, a tuft of feathers, or some substitute, worn as an ornament, as on a hat, helmet, etc.

6. a feather or featherlike token of honor or distinction, especially one worn on a helmet.

7. plumage.

8. a vertically or longitudinally moving, rising, or expanding fluid body, as of smoke or water.

9. a visible pattern of smoke resulting from emissions from a stack, flue, or chimney.

10. Also called mantle plume. Geology.,  a deep-seated upwelling of magma within the earth's mantle.

verb (used with object)

plumed, pluming 

1. to furnish, cover, or adorn with plumes or feathers.

2. (of a bird) to preen (itself or its feathers).

3. to feel complacent satisfaction with (oneself ); pride (oneself ) (often followed by on orupon ).

   She sat before the mirror, pluming herself upon her beauty.

plume

/ pluːm /

noun

1. a feather, esp one that is large or ornamental

2. a feather or cluster of feathers worn esp formerly as a badge or ornament in a headband, hat, etc

3. biology any feathery part, such as the structure on certain fruits and seeds that aids dispersal by wind

4. something that resembles a plume

   a plume of smoke

5. a token or decoration of honour; prize

6. Also called: mantle plume. geology a rising column of hot, low viscosity material within the earth's mantle, which is believed to be responsible for linear oceanic island chains and flood basalts

verb

1. to adorn or decorate with feathers or plumes

2. (of a bird) to clean or preen (itself or its feathers)

3. to pride or congratulate (oneself)

plume

1. A feather, especially a large one.

2. A body of magma that rises from the Earth's mantle into the crust.

3. ◆ If a plume rises to the Earth's surface, it erupts as lava.

4. ◆ If it remains below the Earth's surface, it eventually solidifies into a body of rock known as a pluton.

5. An area in air, water, soil, or rock containing pollutants released from a single source. A plume often spreads in the environment due to the action of wind, currents, or gravity.

Other Word Forms

• plumeless adjective
• plumelike adjective
• replume verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of plume¹

1350–1400; earlier plome, plume, Middle English plume < Middle French < Latin plūma soft feather (> Old English plūm-, in plūmfether downy feather)

Word History and Origins

Origin of plume¹

C14: from Old French, from Latin plūma downy feather

Example Sentences

Scenes of jubilation and orange plumes of flare smoke have followed Red Bull driver Verstappen ever since he emerged as a generational talent 10 years ago.

From BBC

After the big explosion that woke us up, we could see huge plumes of smoke on the horizon.

From BBC

Smoke plumes were seen spread across the east bay as flames scorched up dry grass.

From Los Angeles Times

Images circulating on social media showed thick plumes of black smoke billowing in a forested area of Amalfi in the country's north.

From BBC

“Unseasonably strong instability will create a fire environment capable of producing explosive fire behavior through significant vertical plume growth,” the alerts said.

From Los Angeles Times