Topic: BIRDS

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auk bald eagle beak bill bird birdie bird of paradise bird of passage bird of prey birdsong blackbird bluebird bluejay bobwhite breast buzzard cackle chick claw cob cock cockerel cockscomb colouring condor coo coot cormorant corncrake crane crest crested crop crow(n) crow(v) cuckoo curlew cygnet dickybird dipper dive dodo dove down duck duckling eagle eaglet egret emu feather flamingo fledgling flight fly flycatcher fowl gander gannet gizzard gobble gobbler golden eagle goldfinch goose grebe grouse guillemot guinea fowl hackles hatch hawk heron honk(n) honk(v) hoot(n) hoot(v) hornbill house martin humming bird incubate jackdaw jay kestrel kingfisher kite kiwi lark lay linnet loon lovebird macaw magpie mallard marabou martin meadowlark migrant mockingbird moorhen moult mynah bird nest(n) nest(v) nestling nightingale oriole ornithologist ornithology osprey ostrich owl owlet parakeet parrot partridge peacock peafowl peahen peck(v) peck(n) peewit pelican penguin perch(n) perch(v) peregrine falcon petrel pipit plover plumage plume pullet quail quill raven roadrunner robin rook roost(n) roost(v) rooster ruff sandpiper seabird seagull shag sing skylark snipe song songbird songster sparrow starling swallow swan swift swoop talon teal tern thrush tit toucan trill turkey turtledove twitter vulture wader wagtail warble warbler water bird waterfowl webbed web-footed whistle wing winged wingspan wingtip wishbone wren yellowhammer

Language:	Old English
Origin:	bridd

bird
noun

bird

bird S2 W2 See pronunciation table in "How to use dictionary" pages

See pronunciation table in "How to use dictionary" pages

[countable]

1

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a creature with wings and feathers that can usually fly. Many birds sing and build nests, and female birds lay eggs.:

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wild birds

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The dawn was filled with the sound of birds.

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a flock of birds (=a group of birds flying together)

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a wooden bird cage

2 British English informal a word meaning a young woman, which some people think is offensive

3

the birds and the bees

SE the facts about sex - used humorously or to children

4

a little bird told me (something)

informal used to say that you know something, but you will not say how you found out:

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A little bird told me that you've got engaged.

5

birds of a feather (flock together)

informal used to say that two or more people have similar attitudes, beliefs etc

6

give somebody the bird

a) American English informal to make a very rude sign at someone by holding your middle finger up

b) British English to show strong disapproval of someone who is performing or speaking in public by shouting, making rude noises etc

7

a bird in the hand (is worth two in the bush)

used to say that it is better to keep what you have than to risk losing it by trying to get more

8

the bird has flown

informal used to say that the person you are looking for has already left or escaped

9

be (strictly) for the birds

old-fashioned informal to be silly, useless, or not practical

10

wise/wily/funny/weird etc old bird

old-fashioned informal a person who seems wise, funny etc

11

do bird

SCJ British English old-fashioned informal to serve a prison sentence [= do time]

➔ early bird

; ➔ kill two birds with one stone

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