bird

noun, often attributive

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\ ˈbərd

Definition of bird

(Entry 1 of 2)

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 2)

intransitive verb

: to observe or identify wild birds in their habitats

Other Words from bird Synonyms Example Sentences Phrases Containing bird Learn More About bird

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 Take a leisurely tour of this pristine lake setting, perfect for bird-watching, photo opportunities, or just a quiet morning enjoying the outdoors. — Hartford Courant, 29 Apr. 2022 Like knitting before it, bird-watching is one of those grandma-and-grandpa hobbies that's experiencing a resurgence in coolness. — Marisa Lascala, Good Housekeeping, 13 Apr. 2022 Spring is a special time for bird-watching, when migrating species swing through SoCal. — Mary Forgione, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2022 Plenty of bird watching, photography, hiking, swimming, and boating opportunities await. — J.d. Simkins, Sunset Magazine, 23 Mar. 2022 Magpie and the Tiger references Korea’s national bird and the belief, stemming from folklore, of the tiger’s protective character. — Washington Post, 25 Apr. 2022 Protective measures would cover all the birds — even those that aren’t rare — because the parks don’t want to lose even one bird in their collections. — San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2022 With a 9 1/2-foot wingspan, the California condor is the largest scavenging bird in the nation and a symbol of both a species on the brink of extinction and successful — yet still precarious — efforts to restore imperiled populations. — Louis Sahagúnstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2022 The bird and another flamingo escaped from the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita on a stormy night in June 2005. — CBS News, 29 Mar. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Birders can bird all weekend or just a few hours, Andersen said. — Susan Dunne, courant.com, 8 May 2021 On Monday, a white woman named Amy Cooper went viral for threatening the life of a Black man, Christian Cooper (no relation), who was just trying to bird watch in Central Park in peace. — Kathleen Newman-bremang, refinery29.com, 1 June 2020 Outdoor activities like trail running, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, birding, fishing, kayaking, traditional golf and disc golf are perfect for social distancing. — Josh Woods, The Conversation, 22 May 2020 For a taste of nature, Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge, located on the north side of town, offers birding and wildlife viewing as well as miles of walking trails. — David James, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Sep. 2015 Outdoor activities are still permitted, including bicycling, birding, boating, fishing, geocaching, hiking and hunting. — Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 15 May 2020 With many birding hotspots closed and organized outings canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, birders have been forced to hang up their binoculars. — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2020 The Piney Woods Wildlife Society coordinates birding field trips for its members, and meets the third Wednesday of most months at the Dennis Johnston Park Big Stone Lodge in Spring. — Melanie Feuk, Houston Chronicle, 13 Mar. 2020 The basic tools for birding are not that expensive. — Popular Science, 18 Mar. 2020 See More

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.