[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/preen/)

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# preen

verb (preen, preens, preened, preening)

«preen» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Of a bird: to clean and tidy its feathers with its beak. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preen/#m1)
2. Of a person (often joking or disapproving): to spend a lot of time making yourself look nice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preen/#m2)
3. To feel or show pride in yourself: preen yourself on something. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preen/#m3)

### In the lessons

In science lessons about birds, preening keeps feathers clean, waterproof and good for flying. In stories it can make a character seem vain. Phrases: preen its feathers, preen in front of the mirror.

### Examples

- The swan preened its white feathers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preen/#x1)
- Ducks preen to keep their feathers waterproof. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preen/#x2)
- My brother preened in front of the mirror before the party. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preen/#x3)
- The parrot preened itself on its perch. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preen/#x4)
- She preened herself on winning the prize. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preen/#x5)
- Stop preening and come and eat! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preen/#x6)
- He turned sharply, and there, just above him on the branch of a tree, sat a large Parrot, busily preening his feathers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preen/#x7)

### Note

Regular verb: preened. When said of people it often sounds like a gentle criticism (vain, showing off).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «preen» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preen/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«preen» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/preen.html) on Mova free.