: any of several large aquatic birds (family Phoenicopteridae) with long legs and neck, webbed feet, a broad lamellate bill resembling that of a duck but abruptly bent downward, and usually rosy-white plumage with scarlet wing coverts and black wing quills
Illustration of flamingo
Examples of flamingo in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebShare [Findings] Pinkness predicts aggression in flamingos.—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 22 May 2024 The groups had a tradition of camping in concentric circles—a cross between an Old West wagon formation and a suburban subdivision, often complete with pink plastic lawn flamingos—and wore matching blue berets that suggested a rolling fraternal lodge.—Steven Melendez, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 May 2024 Once the sunlight shone on everything again, the flamingos awoke, eating, bathing in their pond, and pecking their beaks with each other.—Trilce Estrada Olvera, The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024 In 2017, giraffes ran in circles, flamingos huddled together and rhinos looked confused at the Nashville Zoo, the Associated Press reported.—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for flamingo
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Word History
Etymology
obsolete Spanish flamengo (now flamenco), literally, Fleming, German (conventionally thought of as ruddy-complexioned)
: any of several rosy-white birds with scarlet wings, a very long neck and legs, and a broad bill bent down at the end that are often found wading in shallow water
Etymology
from Portuguese flamingo "flamingo," from Spanish flamenco "flamingo," derived from Latin flamma "flame"; so called from the fiery red feathers on the underside of the wings
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