plume

[ploom] /plum/
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.
Compare diapir.
verb (used with object), plumed, pluming.
11.
to furnish, cover, or adorn with plumes or feathers.
12.
(of a bird) to preen (itself or its feathers).
13.
to feel complacent satisfaction with (oneself); pride (oneself) (often followed by on or upon):
She sat before the mirror, pluming herself upon her beauty.
Origin
1350-1400; earlier plome, plume, Middle English plume < Middle French < Latin plūma soft feather (> Old English plūm-, in plūmfether downy feather)
Related forms
plumeless, adjective
plumelike, adjective
replume, verb (used with object), replumed, repluming.
Examples from the web for plume
  • Preliminary images of the plume show layers of it touching the sea floor.
  • As the plume of cigarette smoke dissipates, his smile exposes a single tooth.
  • These scientists were looking for sodium in the plume vapour and couldn't see it in the expelled ice grains.
  • When a volcano erupts, the volcanic plume full of gas and dust rises and then spreads into the shape of an umbrella.
  • Then came the famous now-you-see-it, now-you-don't oil plume controversy.
  • Light shining through the plume of matter coming from the surface provides information about the plume's composition.
  • The main column or plume appears to be a combination of brown ash and white steam.
  • Planes would be allowed to fly through the thinner parts of the plume.
  • Scientists expect the blast to be so powerful that a huge plume of debris will be ejected.
  • The ash plume appears to have a smooth white cap on it as it breaks through the cloud cover above.
British Dictionary definitions for plume

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.
(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 Also called mantle plume
verb (transitive)
7.
to adorn or decorate with feathers or plumes
8.
(of a bird) to clean or preen (itself or its feathers)
9.
foll by on or upon. to pride or congratulate (oneself)
Derived Forms
plumeless, adjective
plumelike, adjective
Word Origin
C14: from Old French, from Latin plūma downy feather
Word Origin and History for plume
n.

late 14c., "a feather" (especially a large and conspicuous one), from Old French plume "soft feather, down; feather bed," and directly from Latin pluma "a feather, down; the first beard," from PIE root *pleus- "to pluck; a feather, fleece" (cf. Old English fleos "fleece"). Meaning "a long streamer of smoke, etc." is first attested 1878.

v.

late 14c., "to pluck, strip," from plume (n.). From mid-15c. as "to adorn with plumes." Meaning "to dress the feathers" is from 1702. Related: Plumed; pluming.

plume in Science
plume
  (plm)   

  1. A feather, especially a large one.

  2. A body of magma that rises from the Earth's mantle into the crust. ◇ If a plume rises to the Earth's surface, it erupts as lava. ◇ If it remains below the Earth's surface, it eventually solidifies into a body of rock known as a pluton.

  3. 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.