◙ noun 1. any of the flat appendages growing from a bird's skin and forming its plumage, consisting of a partly hollow horny shaft fringed with vanes of barbs • 羽毛；翎毛 (feathers)a fringe of long hair on the legs of a dog, horse, or other animal • （狗、马等动物腿上的）一圈长毛 a small side branch on a tree • （树的）小侧枝 ◙ verb 1. [with obj.] rotate the blades of (a propeller) about their own axes in such a way as to lessen the air or water resistance • 使（螺桨）顺流交距 vary the angle of attack of (rotor blades) • 调整（动叶片的）攻角 [Rowing] turn (an oar) so that it passes through the air edgeways • [划船] （收桨时）与水面平行划（桨） »he turned, feathering one oar slowly. 他转过身来，缓缓地轻荡一桨。 2. [no obj., with adverbial] float, move, or wave like a feather • （如羽毛般）飘浮；移动；波动 »the green fronds feathered against a blue sky. 绿叶在蓝天下摇曳。 [with obj. and adverbial] touch (someone or something) very lightly • 轻抚 3. [with obj.] blend or smooth delicately • （细致地）混合；抹平 »feather the paint in, in a series of light strokes. 连续轻轻地调抹几下，把颜料细致地混合进来。 4. [no obj.] (of ink, lipstick, etc.) separate into tiny lines after application • （墨水、口红等）使用后分裂成细线 »[as noun feathering] a long-lasting formula that resists feathering and protects the lips. 防止开裂、保护双唇的持久配方。 5. short forfeather-cut • feather-cut的简称
【IDIOMS】
◘ a feather in one's cap 1. an achievement to be proud of • 骄人的成就 ◘ feather one's (own) nest 1. make money illicitly and at someone else's expense • 营私，中饱私囊 ◘ (as) light as a feather 1. extremely light and insubstantial • 轻如鸿毛；空虚缥缈
1. Old English fether, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch veer and German Feder, from an Indo-European root shared by Sanskrit patra 'wing', Latin penna 'feather', and Greek pteron, pterux 'wing'