- the act of trimming or dressing the feathers, fur, etc., with the beak or tongue: Examples of animals engaging in the same behavior at the same time include the gobbling of turkeys and the preening of birds.
- the act of dressing oneself carefully or smartly, or making small adjustments to one’s clothing to appear trim and smart; primping: I remember my grandma using that perfume—the scent, and the preening in front of the mirror that went with it.
- the act of priding oneself on an achievement, personal quality, etc., especially in an obnoxious way: All the posing and preening by these politicians is not going to help if the program ends up making food less affordable.
- (of birds or animals) trimming or dressing the feathers, fur, etc., with the beak or tongue: We got fabulous views of a preening pair of trumpeter swans on a large rock in the river.
- dressing oneself carefully or smartly; primping: He is a preening ladies' man and social climber.
- priding oneself on an achievement, personal quality, etc., especially in an obnoxious way: Once again you show yourself to be nothing but a preening pseudointellectual.
