nounnoun

la piuma

feather

Piuma is a feminine noun meaning “feather”, especially a soft, light feather from a bird.

It can also mean:

Down or soft plumage, used for filling pillows, quilts, and jackets.
Something very light, in a figurative sense: leggero come una piuma — “as light as a feather.”
A quill pen, in historical or literary contexts, although penna is more common for “pen.”

The plural is piume .

The word comes from Latin plūma, meaning “feather” or “down.”

The related adjective piumato means “feathered” or “covered with feathers.”

penna — “feather”; often refers to a bird feather, but it can also mean “pen.” It is a broader and more common word than piuma.
piumino — “down” or “small soft feather”; it can also refer to a down-filled blanket or jacket.
calamo — “quill” or “reed”; a literary or historical term, especially for a writing instrument.

There is no exact antonym for piuma. Depending on the context, contrasting words include:

peso — “weight,” emphasizing heaviness rather than lightness.
macigno — “large stone” or “burden,” used figuratively for something extremely heavy.
pesantezza — “heaviness,” the opposite of the lightness associated with a feather.

una piuma d’uccello — a bird feather
leggero come una piuma — as light as a feather
soffice come una piuma — as soft as a feather
letto di piume — feather bed
giacca di piumino — down jacket
mettere una piuma sul cappello — literally “to put a feather in one’s cap”; to take pride in an achievement
avere la piuma facile — to be easily moved or emotionally sensitive; a less common figurative expression

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La bambina trova una piuma bianca.noun

The little girl finds a white feather.

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