Feather (Verb)
Meaning 1
Turn the paddle; in canoeing.
Classification
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities.
Examples
- To maintain stability, the paddler learned to feather the paddle as she turned the canoe.
- As they navigated the choppy waters, the instructor reminded the students to feather their paddles to prevent capsizing.
- To avoid drag, she feathered the paddle after the forward stroke, turning it almost parallel to the surface of the water.
- Feathering the paddle helped reduce resistance as he made a sharp turn in his canoe.
- The kayaker expertly feathered her paddle while turning to avoid the massive wave crashing against the shore.
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Meaning 2
Grow feathers; "The young sparrows are fledging already".
Classification
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care.
Examples
- The young ducks are starting to feather just before their first flight.
- The young eaglets slowly began to feather as they grew stronger each day.
- It took several weeks for the baby birds to fully feather and fly.
- The process of fledging speeds up as they begin to feather heavily.
- As the birdlets continued to grow, they would eventually feather and take flight.
Synonyms
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Meaning 3
Turn the oar, while rowing.
Classification
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities.
Examples
- To avoid straining your back, learn to feather the oar at the end of each stroke while rowing.
- As she gained experience, she began to feather the oar smoothly and efficiently, reducing splash.
- Feather the oar at a 45-degree angle to the water before lifting it for the next stroke.
- Feathering the oar properly is critical for maintaining control and achieving maximum speed while rowing.
- Experienced rowers know to feather the oar with precision and ease, creating minimal disruption to the water.
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Meaning 4
Join tongue and groove, in carpentry.
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- The carpenter carefully feathered the joints to create a seamless connection between the tongue and groove boards.
- By feathering the edges of the boards, the carpenter created a strong and nearly invisible joint.
- To strengthen the tongue and groove joint, the carpenter applied a thin layer of adhesive and feathered the edges together.
- Feathering the edges of the boards helped to distribute the pressure evenly and prevent the tongue and groove joint from coming apart.
- The carpenter skillfully feathered the joint to create a smooth, flat surface that was free of gaps or visible seams.
Hypernyms
Meaning 5
Cover or fit with feathers.
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- Early taxidermists often worked hard to carefully feather the entire bird in their mounts to create realistic pieces.
- The costume designer decided to feather the corset to match the inspiration piece from the 1920s.
- Using small amounts of glue to secure the base, she began to carefully feather the edges of the angel wings.
- Some artists prefer to buy plain dolls and feather them to create unique collectibles.
- As the festival approached, volunteers worked tirelessly to feather the ornate bird sculptures that would be carried during the parade.