plumes

Noun

plume (plural plumes)

1. (archaic, literary, poetic) A feather of a bird, especially a large or showy one used as a decoration.
   • Near-synonym: aigrette

   Synonyms:

   aigrette

2. (archaic, literary, poetic) A cluster of feathers worn as an ornament, especially on a helmet; a hackle.
   • Near-synonym: aigrette

   Synonyms:

   aigrette

3. (figuratively) A token of honour or prowess; that on which one prides oneself; a prize or reward.
   • But well thou comſt / Before thy fellows, ambitious to win / From me ſom Plume, that thy ſucceſs may ſhow / Deſtruction to the reſt: […]1667, John Milton, “Book VI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished...

   Synonyms:

   feather in one's cap

4. The vane (“flattened, web-like part”) of a feather, especially when on a quill pen or the fletching of an arrow.
5. Things resembling a feather.
   • Tidal gravitational effects cause plumes of sodium silicate to erupt from Elaaden's core, depositing unusually pure silicon sand across the surface—invaluable for manufacturing high-performance computer hardware.2017, BioWare, Mass Effect: Andromeda (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Elaaden Codex entry
   1. A cloud formed by a dispersed substance fanning out or spreading.
      • After the explosion, a plume of smoke could be seen in the sky for miles around.

See all 19 meanings of plume