Associations to the word «Preen»
Noun
Adverb
Wiktionary
PREEN, noun. A forked tool used by clothiers for dressing cloth.
PREEN, noun. (dialectal) pin
PREEN, noun. (dialectal) bodkin; brooch
PREEN, verb. (transitive) To pin; fasten.
PREEN, verb. (of birds) To groom; to trim or dress with the beak, as the feathers.
PREEN, verb. To show off, posture, or smarm.
PREEN, verb. (UK) (dialect) (dated) To trim up, as trees.
Dictionary definition
PREEN, verb. Clean with one's bill; "The birds preened".
PREEN, verb. Pride or congratulate (oneself) for an achievement.
PREEN, verb. Dress or groom with elaborate care; "She likes to dress when going to the opera".
Wise words
Language is a process of free creation; its laws and
principles are fixed, but the manner in which the principles
of generation are used is free and infinitely varied. Even
the interpretation and use of words involves a process of
free creation.