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Cluster vs Plume - What's the difference?

cluster | plume |

In astronomy terms the difference between cluster and plume

is that cluster is a group of galaxies or stars that appear near each other while plume is an arc of glowing material erupting from the surface of a star.

As nouns the difference between cluster and plume

is that cluster is a group or bunch of several discrete items that are close to each other while plume is a feather of a bird, especially a large or showy one.

As verbs the difference between cluster and plume

is that cluster is to form a cluster or group while plume is to preen and arrange the feathers of.

cluster

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A group or bunch of several discrete items that are close to each other.
    • a cluster of islands
  • * Spenser
    • Her deeds were like great clusters of ripe grapes, / Which load the bunches of the fruitful vine.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1907, author=
    • , chapter=7, title= The Dust of Conflict , passage=Then there was no more cover, for they straggled out, not in ranks but clusters , from among orange trees and tall, flowering shrubs
  • *{{quote-news, year=2011, date=December 29, author=Keith Jackson, work=Daily Record
    • , title= SPL: Celtic 1 Rangers 0 , passage=Charlie Mulgrew’s delicious deadball delivery was attacked by a cluster of green and white shirts at McGregor’s back post but Ledley got up higher and with more purpose than anyone else to thump a header home from five yards.}}
  • *{{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= William E. Conner
    • , title= An Acoustic Arms Race , volume=101, issue=3, page=206-7, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Earless ghost swift moths become “invisible” to echolocating bats by forming mating clusters close (less than half a meter) above vegetation and effectively blending into the clutter of echoes that the bat receives from the leaves and stems around them.}}
  • A number of individuals grouped together or collected in one place; a crowd; a mob.
  • * Milton
    • As bees / Pour forth their populous youth about the hive / In clusters .
  • * Shakespeare
    • We loved him; but, like beasts / And cowardly nobles, gave way unto your clusters , / Who did hoot him out o' the city.
  • (astronomy) A group of galaxies or stars that appear near each other.
  • (music) A secundal chord of three or more notes.
  • (phonetics) A group of consonants.
  • (computing) A group of computers that work together.
  • (computing) A logical data storage unit containing one or more physical sectors (see block).
  • (statistics) A significant subset within a population.
  • (military) Set of bombs or mines.
  • (army) A small metal design that indicates that a medal has been awarded to the same person before.
  • An ensemble of bound atoms or molecules, intermediate in size between a molecule and a bulk solid.

    • Derived terms

    * cluster analysis * clustering * cluster bomb * globular cluster * open cluster * star cluster

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To form a cluster or group.
    • The children clustered around the puppy.
  • * Tennyson
    • His sunny hair / Cluster'd about his temples, like a god's.
  • * Foxe
    • the princes of the country clustering together

    Anagrams

    * * English collective nouns ----

    plume

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A feather of a bird, especially a large or showy one.
  • * Milton
    • wings of many a coloured plume
  • The furry tail of certain dog breeds (e.g. Samoyed, Malteagle) that stands erect or curls over their backs.
  • A cluster of feathers worn as an ornament, especially on a helmet.
  • * Dryden
    • his high plume , that nodded o'er his head
  • A token of honour or prowess; that on which one prides himself; a prize or reward.
  • * Milton
    • ambitious to win from me some plume
  • An upward spray of water or mist.
  • (geology) An upwelling of molten material from the Earth's mantle.
  • (astronomy) An arc of glowing material erupting from the surface of a star.
  • A large and flexible panicle of inflorescence resembling a feather, such as is seen in certain large ornamental grasses.

    • Derived terms

    * plume grass * plume moth * plume nutmeg

    Verb

    (plum)
  • To preen and arrange the feathers of.
  • * Washington Irving
    • pluming her wings among the breezy bowers
  • To congratulate (oneself) proudly.
    • He plumes himself on his skill.
    (South)
  • To strip of feathers; to pluck; to strip; to pillage; also, to peel.
    • (Francis Bacon)
    (Dryden)
  • To adorn with feathers or plumes.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Farewell the plumed troop.
  • To form a plume.
    • Smoke plumed from his pipe then slowly settled towards the floor.
  • To write; to pen.
  • *
    • We mention this observation, not with any view of pretending to account for so odd a behaviour, but lest some critic should hereafter plume himself on discovering it.