bird

noun, often attributive

\ ˈbərd

Definition of bird

(Entry 1 of 3)

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 : clay pigeon

5a : fellow

b : a peculiar person

c chiefly British : girl

6 : shuttlecock

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 : birdie sense 2

for the birds

: worthless, ridiculous

bird

verb

birded; birding; birds

Definition of bird (Entry 2 of 3)

intransitive verb

: to observe or identify wild birds in their habitats

Bird

biographical name

\ ˈbərd

Definition of Bird (Entry 3 of 3)

Larry 1956– Lawrence Joseph Bird American basketball player

Other Words from bird Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about bird

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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: Noun

With sand dunes and salt marshes, Border Field State Park (within the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve at the southern end of Imperial Beach) is a renowned bird-watching spot. — Martina Schimitschek, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Imperial Beach: Most southwesterly city in the continental United States," 30 June 2019 Researchers are particularly focused on what birds need during mating and nesting seasons that shape future population health. — Anders Gyllenhaal, sun-sentinel.com, "For one rare bird, flight from South Florida’s changing climate sparks a surprising revival," 29 June 2019 The grouse harvest of 173,347 birds in 2018 compared to 185,336 in 2017. — Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Ruffed grouse plan is likely to include a shorter hunting season," 29 June 2019 The dining room wall cover is silk with birds painted on it by hand. — Judy Rose, Detroit Free Press, "$2.35M Bloomfield Hills home comes with 2 kitchens and a tree house," 29 June 2019 Ward was enraptured, and his fascination with birds began. — New York Times, "A Bird Show Spots a Rival, and Bird-Watchers of Color Are Angry," 28 June 2019 In the Hardie Summer allotment, there’s plenty of forage, including grasses and flowering pants, for both cows and birds. — Maxine Bernstein, oregonlive.com, "Judge won’t rule until July 17 on request to bar further grazing by Hammond Ranches Inc.," 28 June 2019 Imagine walking down the street and encountering an 11.5-foot tall, 1,000-pound bird. — Daisy Hernandez, Popular Mechanics, "Just a Massive Ancient Bird the Size of a Polar Bear," 28 June 2019 Footprints and scat speak to the importance of this watering hole to elk, deer, raccoons, bears and birds. — Mare Czinar, azcentral, "This peaceful Flagstaff hike belies its explosive origins," 27 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

This area features 7,155 acres of bottomland forest along the Sipsey River available for canoeing, birding, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, biking, picnicking and wildlife photography. — Frank Sargeant, al.com, "Lake Eufaula turns out huge catches in Alabama Bass Trail Event," 19 June 2019 Download the Great Birding Guide from the Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council to find the area's top birding locations. — Houston Chronicle, "Have fun in Galveston without breaking the bank," 14 June 2019 But the elision of bird-birder-birding somehow touched the beyond, and birding is now the word of choice.... — Laura Jacobs, WSJ, "Book Review: Why Birders Flock Together," 17 May 2019 Its filmmaker, Jeffrey Kimball, an urban birding convert, captured four seasons of Central Park’s birding community in an engaging portrait of its singular characters. — Penelope Green, New York Times, "Young Urban Birders, Open Your Hearts to the Treetops!," 23 June 2018 EASY PEEPERS North River Wildlife Sanctuary offers birding by van at monthly outings. — Robert Knox, BostonGlobe.com, "Floral art makes the books bloom in Norwell," 20 Apr. 2018 But instead of writing the obvious profile, Taffy made birding the foundation for a story about a man who, in the age of sharing, has built a fence around himself. — Emilia Petrarca, The Cut, "What Paris Couture and Jonathan Franzen Have in Common," 6 July 2018 Courtesy of Crystal Lagoon Fishing piers, birding trails, wildlife blinds, butterfly gardens, bicycle paths and playgrounds. — Houston Chronicle, "Houston nature centers and preserves," 10 May 2018 Kuchar, ranked 21st in the world, stood at 1 under after his first 11 holes before birding four of his final seven — all on putts of 15 feet or less — to move into second. — BostonGlobe.com, "Rory Sabbatini surges to early RBC Heritage lead; No. 1 Dustin Johnson five back," 13 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bird.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.