preening

UK
/ˈpriːnɪŋ/
US
/ˈpriːnɪŋ/

Translations

preeningnoun
toilettePour une personne : soins apportés à l'apparence.
Her constant preening became tiresome for her roommates.
Sa toilette constante devenait lassante pour ses colocataires.
lissagePour un oiseau : action de nettoyer et lisser les plumes avec le bec.
The bird's preening kept its feathers immaculate.
Le lissage de l'oiseau gardait ses plumes impeccables.
Additional translations
coquetteriePar extension : souci excessif de plaire ou de se mettre en valeur.
preeninggerund / present participle
UK
/ˈpriːnɪŋ/
US
/ˈpriniŋ/
Used attributively to describe self-admiring or grooming behaviour.
vaniteuxPour une personne : qui se admire ou accorde trop d'importance à son apparence.
His preening manner irritated his colleagues.
Son attitude vaniteuse irritait ses collègues.
lissantPour un oiseau ou un animal : en train de lisser ses plumes ou son pelage.
The preening bird sat quietly on the branch.
L'oiseau lissant ses plumes était tranquillement perché sur la branche.
Additional translations
prétentieuxSe dit d'une personne affichant une assurance ou une mise en scène de soi jugée excessive.
preenverb

preening

Gerund

preened
Past Simple
preened
Past Participle
preening
Gerund
UK
/priːn/
US
/priːn/
lisserSe dit surtout des oiseaux : lisser et arranger les plumes avec le bec.
The parrot spent the afternoon preening its feathers.
Le perroquet a passé l’après-midi à lisser ses plumes.
se rengorgerSens figuré : manifester une fierté complaisante, souvent avec vanité.
He preened over his promotion at work, feeling quite pleased with himself.
Il se rengorgeait de sa promotion au travail, très content de lui.
se pomponnerSoigné et familier : se préparer avec beaucoup d’attention à son apparence.
She preened in front of the mirror before heading out to the party.
Elle se pomponnait devant le miroir avant d’aller à la fête.

Definitions

preeningnoun
The act of a bird cleaning and arranging its feathers with its beak.
The bird's preening kept its feathers immaculate.
The act of grooming oneself or making oneself look attractive.
Her constant preening became tiresome for her roommates.
The act of admiring oneself or one's appearance.
All that preening in front of the mirror annoyed his coworkers.
preeninggerund / present participle
Displaying or characterized by self-admiration or excessive concern with appearance.
His preening manner irritated his colleagues.
Actively grooming feathers or fur, especially in birds or animals.
The preening bird sat quietly on the branch.
preenverb
To clean and arrange the feathers with the beak, as birds do.
The parrot spent the afternoon preening its feathers.
To dress or groom oneself with care and attention to detail.
She preened in front of the mirror before heading out to the party.
To pride or congratulate oneself on an achievement or quality.
He preened over his promotion at work, feeling quite pleased with himself.