feather

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Literary

n. a type or kind of person, usually used in the phrase 'birds of a feather'.

n. nature, character, or kind; almost exclusively used in the idiomatic expression 'birds of a feather'.

“Those two are birds of a feather; they both love old books.”

“It was clear from their shared enthusiasm for the project that the two engineers were birds of a feather.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to touch something very gently or lightly.

v. to touch, move, or apply something with a very light, delicate motion.

“She feathered the brake pedal to slow the car down gently.”

“The artist feathered the edges of the paint to create a soft transition between the sky and the mountains.”

C1 · Advanced Engineering Technical

v. to turn an oar or a propeller blade so it moves through the air more easily.

v. to rotate an oar or propeller blade to an angle that minimizes air or water resistance.

“The pilot had to feather the propeller after the engine failed.”

“By feathering the oars at the end of each stroke, the rowing crew significantly reduced the drag caused by the headwind.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Computing Technical

v. to make the edges of a digital picture look soft or blurry so it blends in.

v. to soften the edges of a digital selection or image by blending pixels with the background.

“You should feather the edges of the photo so it doesn't look like a sticker.”

“The graphic designer used a ten-pixel radius to feather the selection, ensuring the composite image looked natural against the new backdrop.”