Illustration of bird
- 1 crest
- 2 crown
- 3 bill
- 4 throat
- 5 auricular region
- 6 breast
- 7 scapulars
- 8 abdomen
- 9 tarsus
- 10 upper wing coverts
- 11 primaries
- 12 secondaries
- 13 rectrix
- 14 tail
often attributive
1
archaic
: the young of a feathered vertebrate
2
: any of a class (Aves) of warm-blooded vertebrates distinguished by having the body more or less completely covered with feathers and the forelimbs modified as wings
3
: a game bird
4
6
7
chiefly British
a
: a hissing or jeering sound expressive of disapproval
b
: dismissal from employment
8
: a thin piece of meat rolled up with stuffing and cooked
9
: a man-made object (such as an aircraft, rocket, or satellite) that resembles a bird especially by flying or being aloft
10
: an obscene gesture of contempt made by pointing the middle finger upward while keeping the other fingers down
—usually used with the
called also finger
11
see also:
Examples of bird in a Sentence
Noun
A large bird flew overhead.
The birds were singing outside our window.
He's a tough old bird.
We met some smashing birds at the pub last night.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
The flowers also provide pollen-rich flowers to attract native bees, small birds and butterflies.
—Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
Highlights range from nature journaling and birding for beginners courses to birding by kayak.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bird
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show current usage.
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Noun
Tall trees tower over a forest containing ferns and the African grey parrot and other bird species.
—Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
The flowers also provide pollen-rich flowers to attract native bees, small birds and butterflies.
—Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
Go birding in secluded preserves or kayak along serene waterways.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
Highlights range from nature journaling and birding for beginners courses to birding by kayak.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bird
Cite this Entry
“Bird.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bird. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bird
1 of 2 noun1
: any of a class of warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrate animals with the body covered with feathers and the forelimbs modified as wings
2
: individual sense 2, fellow
especially
: a peculiar person
bird
2 of 2 verb
: to observe or identify wild birds in their natural environment
birder
noun
Biographical Definition
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