глагол 1) а) чистить перья клювом б) прихорашиваться Например: She always spends ages preening herself before she goes out. — Она часами прихорашивается, прежде чем выйти из дому. Синоним(ы): spruce, doll oneself up, smarten oneself up 2) (preen oneself) гордиться собой; нравиться самому себе Например: Do not preen yourself on defeating so weak an enemy. — Не особенно гордись победой над таким слабым противником.
I. noun Etymology: Middle English prene, from Old English prēon; akin to Middle High German pfrieme awl 1. dialect chiefly British pin 2. dialect chiefly British brooch II. transitive verb chiefly Scottish pin III. verb Etymology: Middle English prenen, alteration of proynen, prunen, from Anglo-French puroindre, proindre, from pur- thoroughly + uindre, oindre to anoint, rub, from Latin unguere — more at purchase, ointment transitive verb 1. of a bird to groom with the bill especially by rearranging the barbs and barbules of the feathers and by distributing oil from the uropygial gland 2. to dress or smooth (oneself) up; primp 3. to pride or congratulate (oneself) for achievement intransitive verb 1. to make oneself sleek 2. gloat, swell • preener noun