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⇱ preen - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

preen

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈpriːn/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/prin/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(prēn)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
preen1 /prin/USA pronunciation   v. 
  1. Zoology[~ + object] (of a bird) to clean or dress (its feathers, etc.) with the beak or tongue.
  2. to dress (oneself ) carefully or smartly;
    primp: [no object]stood preening in front of the mirror.[~ + oneself]preening himself in front of the mirror.
  3. to be proud and show one's appreciation of oneself because of personal quality, etc.: [no object]He stood there preening as the teacher congratulated him.[~ + oneself]preening herself on her accomplishments.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
preen1  (prēn),USA pronunciation v.t. 
  1. Zoology(of animals, esp. birds) to trim or dress (feathers, fur, etc.) with the beak or tongue:The peacock preened itself on the lawn.
  2. to dress (oneself ) carefully or smartly;
    primp:The king preened himself in his elaborate ceremonial robes.
  3. to pride (oneself ) on an achievement, personal quality, etc.:He preened himself on having been graduated with honors.

v.i. 
  1. to make oneself appear striking or smart in dress or appearance:No amount of careful preening will compensate for poor posture.
  2. to be exultant or proud.
  • late Middle English prene, variant of Middle English prunen, proynen (see prune3), perh. by association with prenen, to stab, pierce (verb, verbal use, now dialect, dialectal, of prene preen2), from the pricking action of a bird's beak in preening 1480–90
preen′er, n. 

preen2  (prēn),USA pronunciation n. [Chiefly Brit. Dial.]
  1. British Termsa pin or brooch.
  • bef. 1000; Middle English prene, Old English prēon a pin; cognate with Old Norse prjōnn pin; akin to Dutch priem, German Pfreim awl

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
preen /priːn/ vb
  1. (of birds) to maintain (feathers) in a healthy condition by arrangement, cleaning, and other contact with the bill
  2. to dress or array (oneself) carefully; primp
  3. (usually followed by on) to pride or congratulate (oneself)
Etymology: 14th Century preinen, probably from prunen to prune3, influenced by prenen to prick, pin (see preen2); suggestive of the pricking movement of the bird's beakˈpreener n
'preen' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
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