featherless

/'feðəlis/

Thân thiện

A featherless baby bird rests in a soft nest.

Definition

Adjective: Lacking feathers; without feathers. Describes something, typically a bird or bird-like creature, that does not have the usual covering of feathers.

Usage

The word "featherless" is used to describe the state of being without feathers. It is often used in biological or descriptive contexts. * It is commonly applied to birds that are naturally without feathers (e.g., some species as chicks or adults) or to birds that have lost their feathers. * It can be used figuratively or humorously to describe something that is bare, exposed, or unprotected.

Examples

• The newly hatched chicks were completely featherless and helpless.
• Due to a medical condition, the parrot had large featherless patches on its chest.
• He described humans as featherless bipeds.

Advanced Usage

• In Philosophy/Zoology: The classical definition of a human as a "featherless biped" (attributed to Plato and Diogenes) is a famous example of its use in categorization.
• Descriptive/Figurative: Can be used to emphasize vulnerability or a raw, unadorned state.
  • The tree stood featherless against the winter sky, its branches bare.

Variants and Related Words

• Unfeathered (adjective): A direct synonym meaning not furnished with feathers. Often used interchangeably with "featherless."
  • The unfeathered skin around the bird's eyes was brightly colored.
• Feather (noun): Any of the light, flat growths that form the outer covering of a bird's body.
• Feathered (adjective): Covered with or having feathers.
  • The feathered arrow flew straight to the target.

Synonyms

• Unfeathered
• Bare
• Naked (in a specific biological context, e.g., "naked skin")

Antonyms

• Feathered
• Plumaged

Học thuật

Adjective

1. having no feathers
   • a featherless biped
   • the unfeathered legs of an Orpington

Từ đồng nghĩa

• unfeathered